Tulane researchers seek to advance cardiovascular disease prevention through artificial intelligence and community-based care
Tulane University researchers are developing an initiative that uses artificial intelligence to support cardiovascular disease prevention by combining digital tools with community-based care.
Known as Heartline, the initiative brings together AI, community health workers and faith-based organizations to help individuals make sustainable lifestyle changes.
The project is led by Farah Allouch, assistant professor at the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Nicholas Mattei, associate professor at the School of Science and Engineering. It builds on their years of experience working in community-centered health interventions and AI development.
The project recently received support through a joint seed grant from the Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science and the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. The seed grant is focused on advancing AI and machine learning in public health research.
The concept for Heartline emerged from Allouch’s work during the past four years on a church-based cardiovascular disease prevention trial in New Orleans.
“I’ve been managing community health workers directly and seeing the impact their health education and care management approach has had on our participants in the study,” Allouch said.
While participating in the cardiovascular disease prevention trial, Allouch developed an interest in AI and began considering how these approaches could intersect. This ultimately led to the creation of Heartline.