This systemwide initiative builds on UT-HIP and will establish a coordinated infrastructure to advance AI across all UT health campuses.
The UT Research, Engineering, and Application Laboratory for Healthcare Artificial Intelligence (UT-REAL-Health-AI) initiative has received $25 million in total funding—$15 million approved by the Texas Legislature and $10 million allocated by the UT System Board of Regents.
The key objectives of the initiative are:
- Standardization and Best Practices: UT-REAL-Health-AI will create standardized best practices to benefit each health system, make data sharing and model evaluation more efficient, and improve standardization across the State for access to AI.
- Development of New AI Tools: The initiative will assist state and UT healthcare institutions in developing new and needed AI tools.
- Preventing Care Disparities: Implementing this systemwide initiative will prevent AI from further compounding care disparities by ensuring all health systems have access to the capabilities of UT-REAL-Health-AI.
The funding will support:
- A statewide AI model inventory and HIPAA-compliant generative AI testing platform
- Secure labs for data sharing and model evaluation
- Cloud, computing, and collaborative workspace resources
- Recruitment of developers, clinicians, AI specialists, and project managers
“UT-HIP is deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the development of this proposal—it was a tremendous team effort,” said Zain Kazmi, Associate Vice Chancellor, Chief Digital & Analytics Officer, Health Affairs, The University of Texas System. “We look forward to the exciting opportunities this initiative will unlock for collaboration and innovation in AI across the UT health enterprise.”
