Work in progress

Current projects.

The work is still taking shape. See the question each team is working on, what it is testing now, and where another person could help.

See the projects Join the Incubator

Projects begin with a question, then take shape in the room.

8 questions in progress

Start with the question.

Each project begins with a problem someone is already trying to solve. Teams test where AI can help while people remain responsible for the decisions that matter.

Concept visualization of a Kentucky map, screening pathways, and an outreach calendar — Concept visualization

01Population Health / Oncology

KY-AHEAD

How do we help more people get the cancer screening they are due for?

Now

Planning a cancer-screening workflow

KY-AHEAD is developing a human-reviewed workflow to identify people who may be due for colorectal, cervical, or lung cancer screening. The team is testing with synthetic data while the required approvals are underway.

Where you could help

Workflow and literature mapping
Outreach language review
Evaluation support

CollaboratorsKentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services (state project counterpart)Kentucky Cancer Registry (planned data collaborator)Markey Cancer Center (clinical and research partner)

Concept visualization of a portable retinal camera beside a retinal image — Concept visualization

02Rural Health / Ophthalmology

Rural Diabetic Retinopathy Screening

Could AI-supported screening help catch diabetic eye disease earlier in rural Kentucky?

Now

Planning a rural screening pilot

The team is planning a rural pilot that would add AI-supported screening to UK's human-read tele-ophthalmology network, including referral and follow-up care.

Where you could help

Referral-workflow mapping
Pilot dashboard sketches
Rural health literature scan

Concept visualization of a drone carrying an insulated blood transport container — Concept visualization

03Trauma / Aerospace

Whole-Blood Drone Delivery

Can whole blood stay at the right temperature and remain intact during a drone flight?

Now

Scheduling an in-person hardware assessment

Researchers are planning a controlled, nonclinical study of whether whole blood remains within temperature and handling limits during drone flight. The first phase will establish the protocol and test materials.

Where you could help

Cold-chain protocol review
Flight-test documentation
Poster and pilot materials

Concept visualization of a microphone and simulated patient interface used for practice — Concept visualization

04Med-Ed / Simulation

Virtual Clinic

How can students practice clinical conversations before they see real patients?

Now

Developing research prototypes

Faculty-authored simulated patients would let learners practice clinical conversations, handoffs, and reasoning. The prototypes would support practice, not autonomous grading.

Where you could help

Case-script testing
Rubric and feedback review
Learner experience notes

Concept visualization of patient education materials for HPV and Pap follow-up — Concept visualization

05Oncology / Patient Education

HPV/Pap Patient Education

How can we make abnormal HPV and Pap results easier to understand?

Now

Drafting a patient-education prototype

A patient-education prototype would explain abnormal HPV and Pap results, follow-up, and questions for the care team. English and Spanish content would require clinical review.

Where you could help

Plain-language copy review
English/Spanish content QA
Usability-test notes

CollaboratorsMarkey Cancer Center (clinical and research partner)

Concept visualization of rural care teams connected for case consultation and simulation — Concept visualization

06Rural Health / Workforce

AI-Guided Rural Health Learning Collaborative

How can rural care teams practice difficult cases and learn from each other across distance?

Now

Developing a grant proposal

A proposed collaborative would connect rural care teams for case consultation, tele-mentoring, and AI-supported simulation. Clinicians would retain all clinical decisions.

Where you could help

Learning-session design
Rural workforce literature scan
Simulation scenario review

CollaboratorsUK College of Nursing (learning collaborative partner)

Concept visualization of a clinical reasoning assessment workspace with human review — Concept visualization

07Med-Ed / Clinical Reasoning

AI Assessment & Clinical Reasoning Research

Where does generative AI help clinical reasoning, and where can it mislead?

Now

Studying how clinicians use AI

Researchers are studying how clinicians and learners use generative AI under uncertainty through surveys, interviews, and simulations. Faculty review all formative assessments.

Where you could help

Survey and interview synthesis
Assessment-policy scan
Manuscript support

Concept visualization of a smart pill bottle and adherence signals for care-team review — Concept visualization

08Infectious Disease / Medication Adherence

Hep C Smart Pill Bottle Pilot

Could smart pill-bottle signals help care teams find adherence problems sooner?

Now

Proposed pilot under review

A proposed pilot would test whether smart pill-bottle signals help care teams identify adherence problems sooner. The study would assess privacy, workflow fit, and whether the signals are useful.

Where you could help

Adherence-workflow mapping
Pilot materials QA
Patient-facing language review

Bring your perspective

See a place you could help?

Come to a Friday meeting, ask a question, or bring experience the project does not have yet.

Join the Incubator