New Health Research Center to Benefit Millions

New Health Research Center to Benefit Millions

MONTERREY, Nuevo Leon, Mexico — Tec de Monterrey and The University of Texas at Austin are launching the OriGen Health Research Center (OHRC), marking a pivotal moment in health research. This center will tap into Latin America’s largest biobank, utilizing advanced machine learning tools and expert collaboration to enhance healthcare for millions, particularly benefiting around 65 million Latinos in the U.S.

Your attention here is crucial as chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases disproportionately affect Latino populations. Yet, the genetic factors contributing to these health issues remain largely unexplored.

The OriGen Health Research Center will engage experts from the College of Natural Sciences and Dell Medical School at UT, along with the Institute for Obesity Research at Tec de Monterrey. Together, they will analyze vast amounts of data to create predictive models and advance what is known as precision medicine—treatments specifically tailored to individual patients.

Andreas Matouschek, interim dean at UT’s College of Natural Sciences, expressed his enthusiasm: ‘It is an exciting time to bring both of our universities together to save and improve lives.’ He emphasized that this collaboration aims to promote scientific innovation while addressing significant health and economic challenges.

The collaboration will focus on various domains, including genetics and artificial intelligence. Experts will combine knowledge to drive understanding of health issues affecting Latino groups and explore personalized strategies for prevention and intervention.

Guillermo Torre-Amione, rector of TecSalud, remarked on the center’s mission, stating, ‘OriGen Health Research Center will ensure that proposed solutions are practical and accessible, taking into account the cultural and social realities of individuals.’

Initial projects under the OHRC’s purview include an AI-driven investigation into fat accumulation in the Latino body and a study examining psychological stress, utilizing biomarkers and clinical data.

Today, an event announcing the center featured key figures, including Torre-Amione and Matouschek, shedding light on the collaborative endeavor to improve Latino health across North America.