A University of Florida research team is playing its part to stop the global HIV epidemic, applying the power of artificial intelligence to medical records to uncover patterns of risk and bias that have left some patients in Florida with poor access to today’s effective treatments — so effective that HIV infections are not sexually transmitted.
Why do some HIV-positive patients miss out on such powerful medicine? Do they lack knowledge, insurance, or some combination of factors that push them into limbo?
To seek answers, the UF team will spend four years studying HIV/AIDS in Florida, where transmission remains stubbornly high. The study is funded by a $3.7 million NIH grant. It will use UF’s HiPerGator 3.0, a centerpiece of the university’s artificial intelligence initiative and one of the most powerful supercomputers owned by a university.
According to the Florida Department of Health, an average of more than 4,000 people each year were diagnosed with HIV during the past decade, and more than 120,000 Floridians have HIV.
HIV remains a persistent health issue, and the most affected U.S. group includes men who are Black, bisexual or gay. Globally, more than 38 million people live with HIV, and infections are highest among females. More than 40 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
This article was originally written by Jim W. Harper for UF Health blogs. To read the full article, visit the blog.