Machine learning, is progressing at a rapid pace in 2023. The breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence are impacting the the healthcare industry on a daily basis. A consortium led by six preeminent healthcare institutions, including Intermountain Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is utilizing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to carry out new research into chronic illnesses. Funded by a substantial $51.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this national Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Pneumonia and Sepsis Phenotyping (APS) Consortium is focused on decoding the complications of these illnesses to improve the treatment paradigm.
It is important to note in the the mission of the consortium, that critical illness syndromes such as ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis aren’t uniform diseases. They exist as a spectrum of distinct disorders with differing underlying causes and mechanisms. This nuanced understanding challenges the one-size-fits-all treatment approach, prompting an adjustment towards a more personalized model of patient care. Researchers aim to identify the various subtypes of each illness based on biological similarities and differences amongst patients, paving the path towards developing treatment strategies specifically targeted to these subgroups.
To implement this undertaking, the consortium is utilizing the cutting-edge capabilities of AI and ML. They will conduct assessments including blood and genetic tests, and closely track patients’ progress and outcomes. With the application of AI and ML, they plan to analyze this data to identify distinct patient types and actionable targets within each subgroup. This analytical process would be arduous, if not impossible, without the assistance of these advanced technologies.
The implications of this research have the potential to be extraordinary for the healthcare industry . With ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis claiming hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States each year, the work of the consortium could catalyze large improvements in patient outcomes and survival rates. While the consortium acknowledges the challenges presented by an incomplete understanding of how each syndrome develops, they remain optimistic that the insights gained through their research will lead to more precise and effective treatment strategies.
