Sinohealth Launches China's First AI Lab Dedicated to Healthcare, Offering Platform Support for Research Projects
The accumulation of big data, innovations in algorithms, enhancements in computing power, and the evolution of network infrastructure are driving the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The broader health sector represents a key area for AI application, offering substantial room for growth. Currently, China has achieved breakthrough progress in applying AI to the health field; however, significant challenges remain, including constraints on research progress due to data acquisition and utilization issues, an excessive concentration of research efforts in limited areas, and a notable disconnect between laboratory research and real-world application scenarios.
To support decision-making and connectivity in the health industry, Sinohealth has been committed to empowering the development of the health sector through big data and artificial intelligence technologies. Currently, Sinohealth possesses metadata and dynamic data across the health industry chain, constructing a comprehensive database that covers healthcare providers, pharmaceuticals, patients, diagnostics, and insurance. The company has established a Greenplum data warehouse, built a private cloud for AI deep learning with GPU infrastructure, and developed the “Tiangong-1” data middle platform. Leveraging its robust data processing capabilities and the deep integration of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, Sinohealth has developed a series of smart products designed to support the future growth of the industry.
Meanwhile, as a comprehensive service provider in the health industry, Sinohealth leverages multiple resource integration platforms, including the Westpu Conference (Xipu Hui), to deeply integrate high-quality resources across all segments of the entire health industry chain. In response to R&D needs in the health sector and to support the incubation of innovative projects, Sinohealth has established a specialized artificial intelligence laboratory, which was officially unveiled for the first time at the Second “International Health Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Summit,” held concurrently with the 2019 Westpu Conference.
Sinohealth AI Laboratory will provide platform-based support for various fundamental and applied research projects. This collaborative platform primarily offers effective support across six dimensions: open computing power, data sharing, applicable test scenarios, product incubation, professional assistance, and in-depth discussions.
1. Open computing power platform, providing high-performance computing support
Sinohealth AI Studio provides high-performance computing support to laboratory members based on Sinohealth’s industrial-grade GPU cloud. Laboratory members can quickly deploy deep learning environments and promptly engage in model training and optimization by simply customizing resource quotas according to their needs.
2. Massive Data Sharing
Data is a key element in artificial intelligence research. Over more than a decade of immersion in the big health industry, Sinohealth has accumulated massive amounts of data across various industrial scenarios and established a data-sharing platform that, under appropriate conditions, opens access to authorized de-identified data to support research.
3. Applicable real-world scenarios, supporting early entry of research into field environments
Sinohealth has established extensive industry collaborations in the broader health sector, covering tiered hospitals, clinics, health check-up services, commercial health insurance, and pharmaceutical R&D and sales. These partnerships will provide laboratory members with invaluable real-world application scenarios, enabling research to be deployed in field environments early on to identify issues promptly.
4. Support for Incubation of Innovative Startup Projects (Funding, Team, etc.)
The laboratory provides comprehensive startup incubation support for innovative projects, including funding, co-founder team building, and leadership training.
5. Professional Support: Algorithm Engineering Team, Professional Data Processing Team
The laboratory boasts a robust team of algorithm engineers, providing highly collaborative algorithmic and technical support to professional researchers. Additionally, the laboratory has a dedicated data processing team composed of specialists who deliver professional services in data cleaning, alignment, structuring, labeling, and knowledge base construction.
6. Organize regular exchanges and provide in-depth collaborative seminars
The laboratory regularly invites top experts from internal and external R&D teams, academia, and industry to engage in in-depth collaborative discussions with its members.
The Sinohealth AI Laboratory is open to researchers, technology elites, and entrepreneurs dedicated to applying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the health sector. Innovators with applied solutions or conceptual designs leveraging big data and AI in areas such as healthcare, health management, and drug R&D—backed by mature products or substantial technical reserves—may submit applications for residency. Together, we will explore innovative applications, deliver AI technical services to the health industry, and empower its development.