AIM-AHEAD Program for Artificial Intelligence Readiness (PAIR) - Cohort 2

Important Notes

The AIM-AHEAD coordinating center was established to enhance diversity in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), with an emphasis on reducing health disparities and promoting health equity. We hope to achieve this by engaging in a fair, equitable, and transparent process of building a consortium of AI/ML to promote health equity and an inclusive and diverse workforce. Many communities have untapped potential to contribute new expertise, data, recruitment strategies, and cutting-edge science to the AI/ML field. AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center (A-CC) seeks to increase participation and engagement through mutually beneficial partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and outreach to advance health equity. To learn more about AIM-AHEAD, please visit https://www.aim-ahead.net.

The AIM-AHEAD Program for AI Readiness (PAIR) leverages AIM-AHEAD's capabilities to jump-start AI for health equity research in eligible institutions (as defined in the Eligibility Section). Low-resource organizations encounter substantial challenges stemming from their limited experience in AI/ML research related to health equity, a lack of adequate AI/ML infrastructure, insufficient collaboration across disciplines, and limited grant funding. PAIR is specifically crafted to strengthen the foundational elements of these organizations, paving the way for sustainable success in research endeavors. Through a two-phase funding model, PAIR will facilitate the connection between institutions and AIM-AHEAD resources, along with experts in AI/ML and health equity research, and grant-writing coaches. This collaborative effort aims to establish AI/ML health equity research labs, fostering cross-disciplinary teams dedicated to conducting research projects and proficient grant writing.

Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is dedicated to harnessing the power of AI/ML to expedite biomedical, social and behavioral science innovation, with a primary focus on addressing health disparities and inequities. Through the NIH's AIM-AHEAD program, strategic partnerships have been established to enhance the involvement of institutions, which often face capacity limitations hindering the conduct and sustainability of cutting-edge health-related AI/ML research. The program aims to elevate the capabilities of emerging technologies, initially concentrating on electronic health records (EHR) and extending to diverse datasets, to effectively tackle health disparities. Recognizing untapped potential in various communities, AIM-AHEAD fosters collaboration by encouraging contributions in expertise, data, recruitment strategies, and cutting-edge science to the AI/ML field. The overarching goal is to amplify participation and engagement through mutually beneficial partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and outreach, ultimately advancing health equity.

The AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center is a consortium of institutions and organizations that have a core mission to serve minorities and other under-represented or underserved groups impacted by health disparities.

The AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center consists of 4 Cores:

• • Administration/Leadership Core - Lead, recruit, and coordinate the AIM-AHEAD Consortium
  • Data Science Training Core - Assess, develop, and implement data science training curriculum
  • Data and Research Core - Address research priorities and needs to form an inclusive basis for AI/ML
  • Infrastructure Core - Assess data, computing, and software infrastructure to facilitate AI/ML and health disparities research

• PAIR will support multidisciplinary teams from eligible institutions (according to the criteria specified in the Eligibility Section), to build capacity for AI/ML health equity research. We strongly encourage a multi-PI structure that promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration among public health researchers, healthcare professionals, data scientists, and behavioral scientists or ethicists. The research objectives are as follows:

  1. 1. Acquaint low-resource organizations with AIM-AHEAD resources for long-term success of AI/ML Health Equity research
     2. Facilitate the formation of a multidisciplinary research team focused on the application of AI/ML to Health Equity research
     3. Strengthen research skills via expert mentoring support and training
     4. Jumpstart AI/ML Health Equity research via a learning-by-doing approach
     5. Improve grant infrastructure and writing skills for long-term sustainability
     6. Establish an AI/ML Health Equity Lab with strong institutional support
     7. Engage and guide the next generation of researchers at various levels (such as undergrad, masters, doctoral, post-doc, and early-stage investigators)
     8. Generate translational knowledge of establishing AI/ML Health Equity research labs for broader impact and attracting more members to AIM-AHEAD with similar needs

  The PAIR program is closely aligned with the North Star goals as it focuses on leveraging AIM-AHEAD resources to advance AI research for health equity in eligible institutions. The program’s focus on supporting eligible institutions in AI/ML health equity research covers areas such as workforce development, knowledge empowerment, targeted research to address disparities, and building community capacity in AI/ML.

  Specific ways PAIR is aligned with AIM-AHEAD North Star:

  North Star I: Develop a diverse, equitable, and inclusive AI/ML Workforce

  • • PAIR contributes to the development of a diverse and inclusive workforce by engaging with eligible institutions. Through its initiative to strengthen AI/ML health equity research, PAIR promotes inclusivity by providing resources and support to institutions that may have limited resources, thereby contributing to the overall diversity of the AI/ML workforce

  North Star II: Increase knowledge, awareness, and community engagement/empowerment in AI/ML

  • • PAIR directly addresses this goal by connecting institutions with AIM-AHEAD resources, AI/ML experts, and grant-writing coaches. By providing these resources, PAIR empowers institutions to increase their knowledge and awareness in the field of AI/ML. The establishment of AI/ML Health Equity Research Labs further fosters community engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration

  North Star III: Use AI/ML to address disparities and minority health in behavioral health, cardiometabolic health, and cancer

  • • The primary focus of PAIR is to use AI/ML to address health disparities in institutions. By establishing AI/ML Health Equity Research Labs, PAIR facilitates research projects specifically targeting behavioral health, cardiometabolic health, and cancer in minority populations. This directly aligns with North Star III's objective of leveraging AI/ML to address health disparities in specific areas

  North Star IV: Build community capacity and infrastructure in AI/ML to address community-centric health disparities and minority health

  • • PAIR is designed to build community capacity and infrastructure in AI/ML by providing the necessary resources and support to institutions. Through the establishment of AI/ML Health Equity Research Labs, PAIR contributes to creating dedicated spaces for cross-disciplinary teams to address community-centric health disparities and minority health.
  • The PAIR program is intended for organizations facing challenges in developing research capacities for AI/ML. An institution may propose a single team with key personnel from the same institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH IPF number) including 2 to 3 Co-PIs, each from a distinct discipline. To meet the program’s goals, each team is encouraged to have at least one investigator with a background in a health-related field and one investigator with a computer science background with basic knowledge of AI. Only one application per institution is allowed. Institutions with an existing PAIR award are not eligible to apply for PAIR Cohort 2. Applicants may apply to more than one AIM-AHEAD program in addition to PAIR, however, the A-CC reserves the right to manage multiple awards for the same applicant.Consistent with the goals of the AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center, the following types of Higher Education and other institutions/organizations are highly encouraged to apply for support:Higher Education Institutions
    • • Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
      • Private Institutions of Higher Education

    The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

    • • Hispanic-serving Institutions
      • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
      • Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
      • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
      • Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

    The following types of organizations other than institutions of higher education are encouraged to apply so long as they are a domestic organization located in the United States and its territories:

    Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

    • • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status
      • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status
      • Community-Based Organizations
      • Tribal health and/or human service organizations or Tribally derived institutions (Urban Indian Health Organizations, Tribal Epidemiology Centers)

    For-Profit Businesses/Organizations

    • • Small Businesses
      • For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)

    The primary applicant organization must be a domestic institution/organization located in the United States and its territories.