CHDS Highlights Spring 2026

We were thrilled to host and collaborate on several exciting events over the past few months, bringing together health data science researchers, practitioners, students, and staff from across Boston University and Boston Medical Center.

In December, we introduced DataHub, a new comprehensive research support resource designed to help researchers discover, access, and use existing data sources for health-related research. For more information on data sources (All of Us, MarketScan and DataAxle), check out presentations from the event. To learn more about DataHub, you can visit our website here. We look forward to supporting you during any part of your data journey!

Presenters and organizers of the AI In Practice Symposium (L-R: Koichiro Shiba, Huimin Cheng, Noelle Saillant, Matthew Fox, Debbie Cheng, Belinda Borrelli, Philip Chan, Ziba Cranmer and John Byers.)
To kick off the Spring Semester, we co-sponsored two back-to-back events with The Institute for Excellence in Teaching & Learning and the AI Development Accelerator (AIDA). On February 2nd, we welcomed Boston University faculty, staff and students to take part in an AI In-Studio Workshop, covering the basics of generative AI through live demonstrations and hands-on experimentation. On February 3rd, participants joined us in-person and online for an AI In Practice Symposium, which included an introduction to the BU AI Development Accelerator (AIDA), as well as lightning talks showcasing real-world uses of generative AI in research and education. Recordings of presentations can be found on our website here.

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The third Hackathon for Health Equity took place on February 28th, in collaboration with the BUSPH Department of Epidemiology and the Hariri Institute. This was the first fully virtual edition of the event, challenging undergraduate and graduate students to apply quantitative research methods to pressing public health questions. Read a detailed synopsis and results of the event here!

Group of BU student Hackathon winners.
We were delighted to co-sponsor the BU MedAI Hackathon, which took place on April 10 & 11 at the Center for Computing & Data Sciences. The event drew over 230 registrants from across BU, distributed $10,000 in prizes, and provided GPU access and mentorship to all participants. Organizers noted that it “reflected BU’s commitment to convergent research by connecting medicine, data science, and computing in a way that was technically ambitious and community-driven”. Read the full event recap here.
Sara Lodi and Huimin Cheng.

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In early May, the Health Data Science Seminar Series continued with Dr. Huimin Cheng (Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health) presenting “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Health”. Her seminar offered a comprehensive and accessible introduction to AI in health, covering key concepts, real-world applications, and important considerations for responsible use.

Thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our events this past year.  Join us to kick off Fall 2026 at the fourth annual Health Data Science Poster Session & Reception on Tuesday, September 15th, 12-2pm, in Hiebert Lounge (details forthcoming). Until then, have a wonderful summer!