Leveraging AI for health equity: Why diversity in research is a matter of life and death

Health equity has become an increasingly important goal for society. The UN SDG 3 includes the aims to “ensure health and well-being for all, reduce inequalities, and ensure no one is left behind”. Towards these aims, it is crucial to consider diversity and representation from the earliest steps of the research process to ensure that new medical innovations can benefit everyone, not just a privileged few. The structured and regulated R&D process for new medical treatments is meant to ensure the safety and efficacy of new products, however, a major flaw in this process is the lack of inclusion of representative populations in research. In this seminar, Dr. Emily Jordan will walk through several examples of the consequences of the lack of diversity in research as well as several potential AI-based solutions to ensure that medical innovations of the future are safe and effective for all.