iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The University of Pittsburgh has announced the establishment of the Vijayalakshmi Innovation Center in Women’s Health Analytics and Research (VIHAR). This innovative initiative aims to leverage advanced artificial intelligence tools and foster global collaborations to address persistent disparities in women’s health.
Set to make impactful changes in the field, VIHAR is supported by an investment from Pitt’s School of Medicine along with a generous gift from Indian-origin siblings, Vishnu Vardhan and Harsha Vardhini. The siblings are also the co-founders of Vizzhy Inc., a health tech company that utilizes generative AI to investigate the root causes of metabolic diseases and offer personalized health management solutions.
Highlighting the disparity in medical research for women, Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine, stated, ‘Issues facing women and girls are underrepresented in medical research, which results in fewer treatments available for them. VIHAR will directly address this issue by coalescing communities of researchers and developing innovative AI tools for efficient analyses.’
The center honors the siblings’ mother who experienced complications during her pregnancy, which the siblings hope can be prevented for future mothers through enhanced understanding of women’s health. With the mission to create a global network of biomedical experts, VIHAR aims to expedite the resolution of health challenges affecting women and girls worldwide.
Chancellor Joan Gabel remarked, ‘The University of Pittsburgh is extremely proud of our distinction as a national leader in community engagement. I want to thank Vishnu and Harsha for their incredible generosity, and I look forward to all the possibilities that VIHAR presents to ensure countless women live healthier and happier lives.’
Housed within the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the School of Medicine, VIHAR will build essential ties to Pitt’s biomedical technology ventures. The team, led by Associate Professor Vanathi Gopalakrishnan, will focus on global women’s health disparities, using large datasets to uncover critical health insights.
Gopalakrishnan highlighted the significance of the AI-driven initiative, stating, ‘This will elevate precision medicine to new inclusive heights. The opportunities are limitless.’
In addition to its long-term goals, VIHAR plans to partner with organizations like the Women’s Health and Education Center and the World Health Organization, paving the way for collaborative advancements in global women’s health research.
Gopalakrishnan concluded with optimism, sharing that, ‘With VIHAR, we won’t just monitor and measure; we’ll transform. We’ll be able to clearly track how women’s biological health and overall well-being improves worldwide.’
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