Solving big problems with AI - supporting Westmead Applied Research Centre to improve health outcomes

We believe technology can help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through the Google.org Impact Challenge and other initiatives we’ve continued to support Australian innovators who are using technology to make an impact.

This year, we invited past winners of the Australian Google.org Impact Challenge to apply for $1 million, as well as Google expertise, to support projects using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve a big problem.

Today, we announced that the University of Sydney’s Westmead Applied Research Centre has been awarded the $1 million Google.org AI Alumni prize for their project to customise a digital health program that supports individuals at high-risk of developing cardiovascular disease using AI.

We presented the award with the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Hon Karen Andrews MP at Westmead Hospital today and heard from the team leading this project.

The Westmead Applied Research Centre, led by Professor Clara Chow (formerly of The George Institute for Global Health), will develop a digital health program to deliver tailored advice to participants, harnessing AI to reduce the risk of a heart attack and giving those at risk access to high-quality prevention programs.

This will help improve engagement, behavioural change and health outcomes - ultimately reducing future cardiac events and hospitalisations.

We believe that AI can provide new ways of approaching problems and can help to improve people’s lives. AI provides another tool to explore and address hard questions and this program builds on our existing AI for Social Good initiative, which focuses Google’s AI expertise on solving humanitarian and environmental challenges.

Huge congratulations again to the University of Sydney’s Westmead Applied Research Centre team!