Institute for Health Computing Celebrates Key Milestone

The University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC) marked its second anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and research showcase at its North Bethesda headquarters.

The institute leverages advanced computing, biomedical research, and clinical expertise to address critical health challenges, such as detecting bias in AI used in medical software, predicting disease spread, and improving diagnosis of antibiotic-resistant infections.

UM-IHC has made significant strides in its mission to improve public health and medical outcomes. In just two years, it has established 10 industry partnerships, published over 150 scientific papers, submitted two patents and 26 grant applications, and launched its first spin-off company.

Current collaborations include projects with AstraZeneca to identify Maryland residents at high risk for preventable diseases such as lung cancer and partnerships with 20/20 Gene Systems and United States Pharmacopeia. The organization also is working with researchers from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to tackle pressing issues in health care, including predicting antibiotic resistance and detecting bias in AI models used for medical software.

Located in Montgomery County, the institute is part of Maryland’s thriving life sciences sector, which strategically positions it to foster collaborations with leading biotech companies and federal agencies, including the NIH, FDA, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). UM-IHC’s work also benefits from the county’s robust life sciences ecosystem and its diverse, highly skilled workforce.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich praised the institute’s impact, highlighting how it fulfills a long-standing goal of bringing a major academic research institution to the county.

“I’m really happy that we … achieved something we looked for in Montgomery County, which is bringing an academic research institution into Montgomery County,” Elrich told the University of Maryland’s MarylandToday. “We also hope the institute, with its research internships and fellowship opportunities, will help us expand our life sciences and tech workforce.”

UM-IHC’s celebration showcased its work to over 100 attendees, including state officials, county leaders, and life sciences executives. Guests explored interactive demonstrations, such as virtual reality training modules for physician assistants, and learned about the institute’s vision to advance health care innovation.

Photo Credit: Montgomery County