R.E.A.L. Health AI
Research
Engineering
Application
Lab
About UT REAL Health AI
In 2025, the University of Texas System received legislative approval and dedicated funding to launch UT REAL Health AI, a systemwide initiative to responsibly accelerate artificial intelligence in health. By connecting expertise across UT institutions, UT REAL Health AI is building a coordinated ecosystem to improve patient care and safety, strengthen clinician efficiency, advance research, and prepare the workforce for an AI-enabled future.
Funding and Origins
UT REAL Health AI was established through legislative support and state funding in 2025. This investment reflects Texas’ commitment to advancing responsible AI adoption in healthcare, ensuring that innovation enhances care quality, efficiency, and safety across the UT System.
Leadership Team
- Executive Sponsor: Zain Kazmi, UT System Office of Health Affairs
- Chair: Dr. Peter McCaffrey, UT Medical Branch (UTMB)
- Executive Director: Dr. Nyma Shah, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC)
Steering Committee
- Zain Kazmi – UT System Office of Health Affairs
- Dr. Peter McCaffrey – UT Medical Branch
- Dr. Nyma Shah – UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti – UT Dell Medical School
- Dr. David Jaffray – UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Dr. Eric Peterson – UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Dr. Jiajie Zhang – UT Health Houston
- Cristina Blanton – UT System
- Dr. Edward Sankary – UT Health San Antonio
Workgroups
To accelerate systemwide collaboration and execution, UT REAL Health AI established four key workgroups.
Strategic Priorities & Key Deliverables
- Secure Chat Deployment - Partnering with Qualified Health to enable secure, AI-driven clinical communications across all UT institutions.
- Three High-Value Use Cases - Co-designed with UT institutions to demonstrate systemwide benefit and scalability.
- Systemwide AI Inventory - Comprehensive mapping of AI tools across the UT System to leverage expertise, negotiate vendor partnerships, and accelerate responsible adoption.
2025 - Launch
- Legislative approval, funding secured, and governance structure established.
- Steering Committee and workgroups formed.
- Initial pilot projects selected.
2026 - Implementation
- Secure Chat deployment in partnership with Qualified Health.
- Three priority use cases launched.
- Systemwide AI inventory completed.
2027 - Expansion
- Evaluation and scale-up of pilot projects across UT institutions.
- Workforce training framework deployed.
- Legislative reporting and recommendations delivered.
Strategic Alignment
UT REAL Health AI directly supports the UT System’s mission to advance education, research, and clinical excellence:
- Education: Preparing the next-generation AI-enabled healthcare workforce.
- Research: Accelerating translational AI research and multi-institution collaboration.
- Clinical Care: Improving patient outcomes, safety, and clinician efficiency.
- Systemwide Efficiency: Reducing duplication, ensuring responsible adoption, and maximizing return on investment.
Value to the UT System
Intrinsic Value:
- Strengthens UT’s position as a national leader in responsible AI in health.
- Fosters collaboration and innovation across institutions.
- Enhances patient care and workforce readiness.
Financial Value:
- Shared infrastructure and inventories enable cost efficiency and vendor leverage.
- State funding catalyzes sustainable partnerships with industry, philanthropy, and federal agencies.
Legislative Alignment
UT REAL Health AI fulfills legislative intent by:
- Demonstrating responsible stewardship of AI in healthcare.
- Ensuring transparency and accountability in AI adoption.
- Delivering measurable outcomes in care quality, workforce training, and efficiency.
- Positioning UT institutions as trusted partners in state and national AI policy leadership.
Contact
For more information about UT REAL Health AI or to get involved, please contact:
Dr. Nyma Shah
UT REAL Health AI Executive Director
nashah@mdanderson.org
