The Ministry of Education inaugurated a new Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare at the University of Mumbai today as part of its Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM‑USHA) program. Dr. Sunil Barnwal, Additional Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, led the virtual opening.
Started with the funding of the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), the centre will be the national focal point for research and innovation in cutting-edge AI. One of the main areas of attention of the CoE is women's healthcare empowerment, employed using accountable AI solutions to create tools enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and access to quality healthcare services.
"CoE established with the funding support provided to the University of Mumbai under PM-USHA scheme, the Centre is envisioned as a hub for cutting-edge research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It will particularly focus on women’s health empowerment through responsible AI applications," Ministry of Education tweet reads.
The project is deeply in line with the vision of the Ministry to develop a preventive, holistic, and responsive health system while, at the same time, providing a platform for youth and researchers to participate in meaningful, future-oriented work.
In a display of strong academic collaboration, the event was also attended by Dr. Ravindra D. Kulkarni, Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai; Prof. Sunil Bhirud, Vice Chancellor, COEP Tech University, Pune; and Prof. Mangilal Agarwal, Indiana University, USA. Guests from renowned healthcare centres such as Tata Memorial Hospital and Nanavati Hospital were also present.
With the creation of this CoE, Mumbai University is asserting its leadership in the country to integrate artificial intelligence for solving real-world healthcare issues, particularly in the domain of women's health. The centre will promote the interaction between academia, industry, and healthcare organizations to power AI-based innovation, talent development, and healthcare solutions.
Alongside enhancing the research ecosystem within the university, this initiative helps significantly towards India's expanding digital health mission.
