University of Liverpool and Kyndryl Launch AI Health Innovation Initiative

The University of Liverpool’s Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL) has partnered with Kyndryl, a leader in enterprise technology services, to explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing healthcare services. This collaboration aims to develop innovative solutions that could significantly improve patient interactions and healthcare delivery.

Through this initiative, CHIL and Kyndryl will co-create blueprints for next-generation healthcare technologies, leveraging the university’s extensive research expertise alongside Kyndryl’s Agentic AI Framework. In the project’s first phase, the focus will be on generating and assessing conceptual AI projects aimed at transforming patient experiences. Among the proposed solutions are conversational AI services, including voice agents to assist patients in documenting their health conditions and medication usage.

The collaboration intends to establish a shared library of models ready for innovation, utilizing population health datasets and various testing environments such as Data-into-Action, CHI-Zone, Civic Data Cooperative, M-RIC, and SDE.

Professor Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan Professor of Public Health Systems and Director of CHIL, stated, “The work of CHIL and the University’s AI for Life Frontier is grounded in mobilising data, data science, and AI engineering to improve people’s lives in the Liverpool City Region and beyond.” He emphasized that the collaboration with Kyndryl will enable health systems to provide more personalized care, especially to vulnerable populations.

The Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, highlighted the health disparities in the area, noting that some residents can expect to live up to 15 years less than those in wealthier neighborhoods. “Our area is fortunate to have access to world-class health expertise, and now that we have a global tech giant like Kyndryl on our team, we have the capability to turn their research into real-life impact,” he said. Rotheram expressed enthusiasm for partnerships that use AI to bolster community health services for the region’s 1.6 million residents.

Jonathan Ingram, President of Kyndryl UK&I, remarked on the shared mission of the partnership to create AI solutions that enhance access to care and public services. “By combining academic insight with our Agentic AI Framework, we are laying the groundwork for solutions that can make a lasting positive impact on the future of healthcare services,” he noted.

Kyndryl’s AI innovation lab in Liverpool, set to open in May 2025, will serve as a critical component of this collaboration. The lab will apply Kyndryl Consult’s expertise in multi-agent optimization and conversational AI to tackle healthcare challenges, particularly for underserved populations.

This initiative aligns with the Liverpool City Region’s Life Sciences Innovation Zone, part of the UK Government’s national Investment Zone Programme. The partnership positions the Liverpool area as a vital hub for health and life sciences innovation, setting the stage for advancements that could redefine healthcare accessibility and effectiveness.