Every day, Yu Tian arrives at the AI and Imaging in Medicine (AIM) Research Lab at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where he is working to advance medical artificial intelligence. His goal is to help people live longer, healthier lives.
“We often hear that ‘we’re at a turning point in human history,’” Tian says. “And with AI research in a university setting like this, it’s true.”
Tian joined UCF last May as a computer science professor. He described his vision of bringing together artificial intelligence specialists from around the world to collaborate with medical experts and start new projects. “The ultimate goal for my team is to extend people’s lives, significantly,” Tian says.
He points out two main challenges facing medical AI: data privacy and collaboration between disciplines. “There are two major limitations with medical AI,” Tian says. “One is the privacy of data — AI requires a lot of data. The other issue holding back progress is collaboration. Computer scientists working on AI typically don’t know medicine. We need input from doctors and biologists. In that sense, universities are uniquely positioned.”
“Universities bring together computer scientists, physicians and hospitals — allowing us to identify clinically meaningful problems, access real-world data responsibly and develop solutions that are grounded in medical practice.”
With these resources available at UCF, Tian’s AIM team has been developing an AI system capable of learning from each patient’s health records, exams, imaging scans and life information to predict future health outcomes.
For example, their technology could allow doctors to estimate the probability of dementia years before symptoms appear or help oncologists use MRI scans to quickly determine gene mutations linked to tumors—potentially replacing lengthy genome tests.
Tian believes these advances could make diseases preventable and treatments more effective while reducing costs.
When asked how close this technology is to being implemented in healthcare settings, Tian responds: “Close,” adding: “It’s sometimes hard for me to believe, too.”
Tian began his career focused on traditional computer science goals while earning his Ph.D. at the University of Adelaide in Australia but was inspired by an advisor who challenged him: “Do you want to work on fun AI video projects, or do you want to really impact lives?”
This led him toward medical applications for AI after reading about significant research coming from UCF.
After completing postdoctoral work at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania focusing on medical AI—and learning about UCF’s collaborative environment—he decided it was the right place for his ambitions.
“I found out about UCF’s young medical school with physicians and scientists working together. And then I heard about the hospitals in the Orlando area, including AdventHealth and Orlando Health, and this freedom to explore AI applications. I wanted to be in an environment like that, where research can advance quickly.”
Upon joining UCF as faculty member shortly after its Institute of Artificial Intelligence opened, he established his own lab dedicated to advancing longevity through technology.
The AIM Lab now includes more than two dozen faculty members along with over 100 doctoral students and 10 postdoctoral researchers spanning fields such as computer science, robotics and medicine.
“We all have big goals,” Tian says.
Less than a year into leading AIM Lab efforts at UCF he notes: “We aren’t far off from deploying AI models in hospitals to help doctors.”
Reflecting on what motivates him personally beyond professional achievements—memories of building computers with his father as a child—Tian shares: “I want to help everyone have a quality life to 100 — or longer. My family. Me. All of us,” he says. “I love the possibility. I love being here, at this turning point, with the opportunity to make a huge impact.”
