Faculty work in small groups to discuss opportunities for collaborative projects. (Rosalind Franklin University/Mike Schmidt)
DePaul President Rob Manuel kicked off the event with remarks. (Rosalind Franklin University/Mike Schmidt)
DePaul Provost Salma Ghanem, Rosalind Franklin Provost Nancy Parsley and DePaul Associate Vice Provost for Research Daniela Stan Raicu greet one another at the kickoff event. (Rosalind Franklin University/Mike Schmidt)
Faculty from Rosalind Franklin University and DePaul University gather to discuss collaboration opportunities utilizing artificial intelligence in biomedical discovery and health care. (Rosalind Franklin University/Mike Schmidt)
A new research and development alliance between DePaul University and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is leveraging fast-moving trends in the fields of artificial intelligence, biomedical discovery and health care.
DePaul President Rob Manuel welcomed some 60 faculty and staff from the two universities at a kickoff event on the Lincoln Park Campus in September. In small groups, faculty and staff sparked ideas for the alliance's first initiative: an
AI in health care research grant.
Over the past decade, scholars from DePaul and Rosalind Franklin have collaborated on dozens of research papers and nearly 200 presentations. The new alliance will provide students with additional opportunities for research and networking. It will also give faculty resources to tackle health projects that Chicago needs, says DePaul Provost Salma Ghanem.
"The potential dividends from collaborative research where these disciplines intersect are enormous," Ghanem said. "Together, our institutions can pursue and address a greater breadth of research questions than either of us could alone."
Rosalind Franklin Provost Nancy Parsley also addressed the strategic importance of the alliance in her remarks. "Our decade-long partnership is a testament to the shared visions of Rosalind Franklin University and DePaul University," Parsley said. "Northeastern Illinois is home to one of the leading life-sciences sectors in the nation, and partnerships like ours drive the innovation and discovery that advance health and wellness."
During the half-day event, a number of novel, collaborative and innovative projects were discussed. Two weeks later, faculty at both institutions submitted letters of intent for research grants, ranging from the application of AI on drug development to movement disorders.
In December, the universities will announce the funded, collaborative projects, and work shall begin on cross-cutting research designed to advance basic, applied and translational science. Stay tuned for future announcements about this exciting new funding opportunity, as the collaboration is slated to continue through 2025.
Marty Martin directs two combined graduate degree programs at DePaul: the Health Sector Management MBA/MA in Health Communication program; and the MBA and MBA/MPH program.