Dec. 8, 2023 — Several UF College of Medicine projects have been selected to receive Strategic Funding Awards, as announced Dec. 4 by UF President Ben Sasse. The funding initiative is designed to advance interdisciplinary scholarship and enhance the student experience.

Learn about the new College of Medicine projects below:

• A project led by Azra Bihorac, M.D., M.S., FASN, FCCM, has received $2 million to develop an artificial intelligence-enabled intelligent virtual hospital. As a responsive replica of UF Health operating and intensive care unit rooms, it will simulate scenarios to optimize real-world decision-making and provide a unique learning environment for health care providers. View more details about the project. 
• A project led by Barry Byrne, M.D., Ph.D., has received $1.5 million to launch new clinical programs and train the next generation of health care providers in genetic medicine. The initiative will establish a Center of Excellence, the first of its kind in the Southeast, with the ability to develop, bring to market and provide novel treatment delivery based on gene and cell therapy. View more details about the project. 
• A project led by Brian Hoh, M.D., M.B.A., FACS, FAHA, FAANS, has received $1 million for investigators at the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute to combine basic and clinical research and AI to improve treatments for stroke and provide a multidisciplinary learning experience for students. View more details about the project. 
• A project led by Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., and Jennifer Woodard, M.P.H., RN, CCRP, has received $1.5 million for the UF Health Cancer Center to bring mammography services directly to community members with the launch of a mobile unit. Outfitted with leading-edge technology, the mobile unit will help detect cancer in its early stages so treatment can begin as quickly as possible, before the disease spreads. View more details about the project.
• A project led by David Ledbetter, Ph.D., of the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville has received $500,000 to create the Precision Autism Center of Excellence, which will expand the clinical capacity for the diagnostic evaluation, management and treatment of children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders while increasing external research funding and support from pharmaceutical and diagnostic genomics companies. View more details about the project.