AI MedTech Match: Uniting clinical and AI experts to transform patient care
New program pairs researchers in healthcare with AI specialists to collaboratively develop innovative research proposals.
ANN ARBOR — The University of Michigan’s AI & Digital Health Innovation (AI&DHI) and its core e-Health and Artificial Intelligence (e-HAIL) community have partnered with the Rogel Cancer Center and the Michigan Medicine Department of Surgery, to introduce a new research funding program aimed at advancing patient care through cross-disciplinary collaboration. Called the AI MedTech Match Grand Challenge, the annual competition pairs clinical investigators from Michigan Medicine with AI faculty specialists at U-M to collaboratively develop and pitch innovative research proposals. The program provides up to one year of support to funded teams, helping them push their project to a critical next stage and equipping them to apply for external grants at the conclusion of the funding period.
“The University of Michigan is home to some of the greatest AI and clinical expertise, yet it can be challenging for these experts to find each other,” said Dr. Megan Haymart, Associate Director of Data Solutions at AI&DHI, Nancy Wigginton Endocrinology Research Professor of Thyroid Cancer and Professor of Internal Medicine at Michigan Medicine. “The goal of AI MedTech Match is to facilitate those collaborations so that the researchers can focus on what they do best. By bringing the best of both worlds together, we aim to accelerate innovations that could totally reshape how we care for our patients.”
The AI MedTech Match Process
Loosely inspired and created in consultation with the team behind the Grand Challenge programs hosted by the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation, AI MedTech Match uniquely supports early-stage, high-risk research and innovations.
The process begins with the program’s signature component—the match. Faculty members with clinical research ideas who are seeking to collaborate with an AI expert on a research project submit a brief video pitch explaining their clinical problem. These videos are shared with participating AI specialists from across the U-M community, who review and note which projects they would be most interested in collaborating on. AI&DHI then shares that information with the clinical faculty, who ultimately select the expert (their “match”) that they would like to work with.
“The University of Michigan is home to some of the greatest AI and clinical expertise, yet it can be challenging for these experts to find each other. The goal of AI MedTech Match is to facilitate those collaborations so that the researchers can focus on what they do best.”
Once the matches have been made, the newly established teams work together to submit written proposals that expand upon their initial research ideas. The proposals are evaluated by experts from Michigan Medicine, the College of Engineering, and the School of Public Health, with the highest-ranking projects moving on to present at the virtual pitch day event.
The inaugural AI MedTech Match, which launched in December of 2025, received eleven applications, six of which are scheduled to present at the Wolverine Den on April 11. Two teams, one focused on surgery and one focused on cancer, will be awarded part of the $100,000 in total funding available this year.
“It’s only the first year, and yet we’re thrilled with the number of matches. There’s no shortage of interesting problems, and faculty in the College of Engineering are excited to work with our colleagues in Medicine,” said Dr. Jenna Wiens, co-director of AI&DHI and Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering.
Collaborating Across Silos — Not Just for the Competitors
The inaugural AI MedTech Grand Challenge was made possible through a strategic alliance between AI&DHI, the Rogel Cancer Center and the Department of Surgery. Rogel and Surgery each contributed a portion of the awarded funding and leveraged their networks to provide the institutional matchmaking required to bring clinical researchers and AI experts together.
"We are incredibly proud to have helped launch AI MedTech Match alongside our colleagues in Surgery,” said Dr. Lauren Wallner, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology and co-Leader of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program at Rogel Cancer Center. “By pairing research and clinical expertise with AI innovators, we’re laying the groundwork for transformative solutions in cancer care, and we’re excited to see the new directions these collaborations will inspire."
“Partnering with the Rogel Cancer Center for the inaugural AI MedTech Match Grand Challenge has been a perfect reflection of the Department of Surgery’s commitment to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research,” said Dr. Justin Dimick, Professor of Health Management and Policy and Frederick A. Coller Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery. “This program offers a unique opportunity for our surgeons and scientists to join forces with AI specialists, rapidly moving from insight to impact.”
While the first AI MedTech Match competition was open exclusively to faculty from Rogel and Surgery, AI&DHI plans to expand the program to encompass additional clinical areas and is actively seeking new partners to support these future iterations. Those who are interested in learning more are encouraged to reach out to Phil Jacokes, Managing Director at AI&DHI. Information is also available on the official AI MedTech Match website.
About AI & Digital Health Innovation
AI & Digital Health Innovation (formerly Precision Health at U-M) is dedicated to empowering researchers at the University Michigan to change the future of digital healthcare. They work with multi-disciplinary teams of health providers, basic scientists, engineers, and administrators to tackle the most difficult research problems and help rapidly bring ideas to the bedside. For more information visit aidhi.umich.edu.