AIM-AHEAD Trainees Showcase Research at the 2025 Bridge2AI All Hands Meeting and Open House
The Bridge2AI May 2025 All Hands Conference and Open House took place on May 20–22, 2025, at the NIH Neuroscience Center in Rockville, Maryland, bringing together over 275 participants from across the biomedical and AI research communities. This three-day event provided a dynamic forum for sharing knowledge and ongoing research, fostering collaboration and networking among peers, and exploring innovative approaches to integrating artificial intelligence into biomedical science.
With 44 total AIM-AHEAD trainees from both the AIM-AHEAD Bridge2AI AI-READI Training Program and the AIM-AHEAD Bridge2AI for Clinical Care Training Program, along with approximately 20 additional AIM-AHEAD Consortium members in attendance, AIM-AHEAD was well represented at the conference. Throughout the event, trainees actively engaged in a variety of sessions and took part in program-specific activities designed to highlight their work and promote peer-to-peer learning and networking.
AIM-AHEAD Communications Hub MPI, Toufeeq Syed, PhD, and members from his team played a key role in organizing AIM-AHEAD’s participation at the event, which centered around the scheduled Program Update sessions for each of the ongoing AIM-AHEAD Bridge2AI collaborative training programs (AI-READI and Clinical Care).
In collaboration with Bridge2AI Partners and leaders from the Bridge2AI Planning Committee, Communications Hub team members Lesley Grandstaff, M.Ed. (Program Manager), Deandra Maevry, M.Ed. (Program Coordinator), D’Laney Kernan (Manager of Communications), Kelsey Middleton, M.Ed. (Marketing & Social Media Coordinator) and Deevakar Rogith, PhD (Faculty), provided critical operational support for these sessions by developing presentation slide decks, informational flyers, managing trainee communications, and tracking overall conference participation.
Dr. Syed successfully conducted the AIM-AHEAD Bridge2AI AI-READI and AIM-AHEAD Bridge2AI for Clinical Care Program Update sessions held on May 21, where current trainees presented their work and engaged in meaningful discussions about the practical applications of their research. These sessions provided a structured opportunity for trainees to connect with peers and mentors, share insights, and present the progress of their research projects to an audience consisting of fellow cohort members, NIH representatives, and program leaders from both AIM-AHEAD and Bridge2AI.
Earlier conference sessions on May 20–21 highlighted Bridge2AI’s strategic direction and cross-consortium progress. Attendees heard remarks from NIH leadership and participated in discussions on data sustainability, responsible research practices, and collaborative initiatives. The Open House on May 22 further emphasized shared strategies for integrating AI with biomedical innovation, featuring sessions on data governance, standards, and training, and breakout groups addressing Grand Challenge topics such as Clinical Care, Precision Public Health, Salutogenesis, and Functional Genomics.
AIM-AHEAD’s strong presence, supported by the AIM-AHEAD Communications Hub’s leadership and coordination contributions, underscored the Consortium’s commitment to advancing healthcare through AI-focused research and capacity building. The meeting offered a valuable platform for AIM-AHEAD trainees to exchange ideas, refine their research, and build meaningful connections across the broader AI and biomedical research communities.