By Angie Arranz Abreu,
Special to Rice News
Rice University and Houston Methodist have awarded several seed grants to support research in digital health. Facilitated by Rice’s Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health (ENRICH) and the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, the seed grants aim to foster new collaborations between both institutions, support teams in securing additional multisource funding and accelerate the translation of technologies into clinical applications.
This funding opportunity followed the second PATHS-UP Digital Health Workshop hosted by Rice’s Digital Health Initiative last summer.
The workshop was designed to pave the way for a digital transformation in the health care system through network building and seed funding. By bringing together experts from diverse backgrounds — including clinicians, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and government agencies — the organizers sought to catalyze new collaborative research projects in digital health to address pressing health care needs.
“Digital technologies have the potential to transform medical care from episodic to continuous paradigms. Additionally, they offer unique scalability, enabling the delivery of services to previously unreachable populations and providing a foundation for more equitable treatment,” said Ashutosh Sabharwal, Rice’s Ernest Dell Butcher Professor of Engineering who leads the Digital Health Initiative.
Sabharwal also co-leads the Digital Health Institute, a groundbreaking initiative between Rice and Houston Methodist launched recently. These efforts are part of a history of collaboration between Houston Methodist and Rice, including the Center for Neural Systems Restauration and the Center for Human Performance.
The robust cohort of submitted proposals focused on improving health outcomes for patients dealing with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, cancer and mental health issues in both adult and pediatric populations.
The four selected projects were recognized for their significant contributions to digital health, ultimately creating impactful solutions for enhancing patient care. They are:
Advancing the Early Diagnosis of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease through Novel Imaging Techniques
Primary investigators:
● Lei Li, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering, George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, Rice
● Dr. Eleftherios Mylonakis, the Charles and Anne Duncan Presidential Distinguished Chair, Department of Medicine, and professor of medicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute
The project aims to advance the diagnosis of metabolically dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) through innovative imaging techniques: photoacoustic tomography. This cutting-edge technology enables label-free imaging of blood vasculature, hemodynamics, lipid concentration and sound speed within organs, allowing for molecular-level detection of MASLD.
This approach holds significant potential for improving noninvasive diagnostics at the earliest stages of the condition and could play a critical role in reducing the associated risks of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes in affected populations.
Leveraging Radiomic and Genomic Markers for Precision Diagnosis of Cardiac Sarcoidosis
Primary investigators:
● Meng Li, the Noah Harding Associate Professor in Statistics, George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, Rice
● Dr. Mahwash Kassi, assistant professor of cardiology, Houston Methodist Academic Institute
This project pioneers the integration of radiomic, genetic and phenotypic data for diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis. The multiparametric approach represents a significant shift from traditional diagnostic methods, introducing a noninvasive, digital health-powered solution with the potential to transform clinical practice.
Multimodal AI Model for Predicting Optimal Cytoreduction in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Primary investigators:
● Meng Li, the Noah Harding Associate Professor in Statistics, George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, Rice
● Dr. Behrouz Zand, gynecologic oncologist, Houston Methodist
● Dr. Pedro Ramirez, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Houston Methodist
This project aims to develop an AI-driven model to predict optimal cytoreductive surgery in advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer. By integrating quantitative preoperative computerized tomography features with clinical data, the model seeks to enhance the prediction accuracy of optimal cytoreduction. This approach addresses limitations in conventional prediction methods, contributing to better preoperative planning and personalized treatment strategies.
A Retrospective Study of Emerging Interventions in Minority Populations: Cardiovascular and Renal Benefits of GLP-1RA and SGLT2 Inhibitor Therapies in Minority Populations
Primary investigators:
● Ashutosh Sabharwal, the Ernest Dell Butcher Professor of Engineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering, George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, Rice
● Dr. Abhishek Kansara, assistant professor of clinical medicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute
This project addresses the critical need to reduce cardiovascular disease and renal complications in individuals with Type 2 diabetes, particularly in underserved populations. By conducting a population-based retrospective cohort study within the diverse Houston Methodist health system, this research seeks to emulate a randomized clinical trial to quantify the cardiovascular and renal outcomes observed in minority groups, providing critical evidence for equitable and precise use of glucagonlike peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) therapies.
“The collaborative efforts from PATHS-UP accelerate the invention, validation and implementation of technologies, ensuring they reach those who need them most. The partnership between Rice University and Houston Methodist is crucial in advancing health care through innovative research,” said Sharon Pepper, executive director of ENRICH.
As Rice advances its position as a leading nonmedical institution in health research, the ENRICH office will play a vital role in reinforcing the university’s commitment to digital health and patient-centered innovations, Pepper said. By removing institutional barriers, Rice will continue to foster collaborations with health-related partner institutions at the Texas Medical Center.
Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) Engineering Research Center (ERC) was founded in 2017 by the National Science Foundation to improve and engineer transformative, robust and affordable technologies and systems to improve health care access, enhance the quality of service and life and reduce the cost of health care in underserved populations.
The PATHS-UP ERC team is led by Texas A&M University with partners from the University of California, Los Angeles; Rice; and Florida International University.
