On Wednesday, July 9, a key event during the 2025 AIM-AHEAD Annual Meeting was led by Dr. Paul Avillach, AIM-AHEAD MPI and Infrastructure Core Lead, and Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School. The presentation featured a comprehensive overview of AIM-AHEAD’s infrastructure during a lunchtime session in the Crystal Ballroom.

Dr. Avillach introduced the AIM-AHEAD Infrastructure Core team and provided insights into the Infrastructure Core’s development and future goals. He also discussed the AIM-AHEAD Service Workbench, which is a centralized, secure cloud platform that supports OCHIN, AWS Open Datasets, and the Bring Your Own Data (BYOD) model. To date, the platform has supported 673 users and meets FISMA requirements and the latest NIH policy for controlled-access data repositories.

Dr. Avillach shared examples highlighting the Infrastructure Core’s role in supporting 117 AIM-AHEAD projects between September 2022 and June 2025. He also described the tailored concierge services provided by the Infrastructure Core, which have delivered individualized, hands-on support to AIM-AHEAD Awardees, Trainees, and Fellows across Years 1-3 of the program. This adaptive model has addressed evolving infrastructure and data needs, helping awardees navigate technical, regulatory, and operational challenges to advance their research effectively.

Through this session, attendees gained a clear understanding of how the AIM-AHEAD Infrastructure Core supports the AIM-AHEAD Consortium. Dr. Avillach’s presentation underscored the importance of secure, adaptable infrastructure in driving research success.

Related Links

2025 AIM-AHEAD Annual Meeting Program Book 

2025 AIM-AHEAD Annual Meeting Website (CVENT)

AIM-AHEAD Infrastructure Core

AIM-AHEAD Service Workbench

AIM-AHEAD Programs