Rice University and Houston Methodist have partnered to establish the Digital Health Institute, a multiyear initiative aimed at leveraging technology and collaborative expertise to advance healthcare.

The partnership combines Houston Methodist's academic medicine and research capabilities with Rice University's strengths in engineering, digital health, and artificial intelligence. The initiative's goals include developing innovative solutions to improve patient and population health, enhance operational efficiency, and expand access to equitable care, according to a Dec. 16 news release.

The institute is led by Ashutosh Sabharwal, PhD, ernest dell butcher professor of engineering at Rice, along with Khurram Nasir, MD, centennial chair in cardiovascular medicine at Houston Methodist, and William Zoghbi, MD, division chief of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at Houston Methodist. It aims to drive research and development in digital health while training the next generation of leaders in the field.

The institute will focus on the following key areas: