About us

The 3AI-initiative strives to bridge the full cycle of research, evaluation, implementation and valorization and to work towards a sustainable (data) infrastructure that underpins it all. Our goal is to position Utrecht as the place for AI within healthcare, both for patients, clients and citizens.

In addition, we are committed to an integrated approach to AI, from data to research and evaluation, to implementation, which resonates not only within research and care, but also within education. We do this by structurally embedding AI in the education of medical students and by developing the module AI for healthcare professionals and UMC Utrecht employees, so that healthcare professionals and UMC Utrecht employees can also continue to develop in this rapidly changing world.

To further engage students in AI research and AI-driven care, we are joining the Student Research HUB Network. With this, we are creating additional opportunities for students to gain practical experience and actively contribute to the further development of AI in healthcare.

With these ambitions, we are building a future-proof AI strategy in UMC Utrecht that stimulates innovation and contributes to better care and health. Because AI is not a one-day wonder, and is ‘here to stay’ in our care, research and education of today and tomorrow.

Who are we?

3AI is built around three pillars

Data & Infrastructure, led by Miriam Sturkenboom, Charlotte Onland-Moret and Sven Oosterhoff, with involvement from the Julius Center, the DIT and Health-RI.

Research (AI labs), led by directors and coordinators supported by Harry Pijl and Roëlle de Koning from the Research Office.

Implementation, where Navin Natoewal and Ilse Kant from Digital Health are responsible for the implementation of AI applications within UMC Utrecht, with Ilse Kant as team lead AI for Health.

Ecosystem, where in addition to the aforementioned pillars, attention is paid to the various existing and newly to be developed competencies and expertise. But also for the educational part, both for students, care providers and other UMC Utrecht employees.

Overall, figurehead is Carl Moons (professor of clinical epidemiology, Julius Center) coordination by Harry Pijl & Roëlle de Koning. Integrating pillars data, research & implementation by Saskia Haitjema.

Collaboration UU - UMC Utrecht

From the beginning, UMC Utrecht’s AI Labs have been actively and successfully collaborating with the existing Utrecht University (UU) AI Labs, which have long had a strong presence in the AI domain outside the health sector. By jointly working on overlapping AI topics, we increase scientific and societal impact and learn from each other’s expertise and experiences.

An example of this collaboration is the AI Lab for Healthy Living, which operates at both UU and UMC Utrecht, combining the strengths of both. But the other 4 Health AI labs also work closely with one or more UU AI labs. All these collaborations provide an integrated Utrecht approach to AI research in healthcare and promote the exchange of knowledge, expertise, acquisition and education between the UMC Utrecht AI Labs and the UU AI Labs.