In collaboration with Pitt’s Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE), Leidos, an industry and technology firm serving government and commercial customers with digital and mission innovations, is committing $10 million to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for detecting and managing diseases,

The initial focus of the five-year collaboration, announced in an April 18 news release, will be developing AI-powered tools for quicker detection of diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, reducing diagnostic turnaround times, and enabling earlier, more effective care management.

“Our investment is aimed at using the transformative power of artificial intelligence to speed detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect millions of people annually,” said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. “These efforts will also focus on developing future health care specialists, and expanding the care that’s available to underserved communities, including our veterans.”

For more than 25 years, Reston, VA-based Leidos has operated the National Cancer Institute’s Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, supporting progress in the fight against cancer.

The company also brings more than two decades of experience in applying AI to areas such as health care, national security, and energy, and helps improve care for military families and veterans by strengthening delivery, access, and continuity of care, the release said.

Key objectives of the Leidos-Pitt collaboration include:

• Establishing a world-class research hub: The University will enhance CPACE by continuing development of its state-of-the-art Digital Pathology Research Center. These facilities will drive pioneering research in digital pathology and AI-driven diagnostics.

• Developing digital healthcare solutions: Advancing AI-powered technologies will help cement Pitt’s leadership in digital pathology and enable Leidos to develop innovative solutions designed to support digital health and diagnostics.

• Accelerating global impact: Leidos plans to leverage the collaboration to deploy AI-powered digital pathology solutions across public and private healthcare sectors with the goal of leading the commercialization of innovative healthcare technologies.

“The University of Pittsburgh’s leadership in research and innovation, coupled with the expertise in technology solutions offered by Leidos, establishes a path forward to delivering advancements in diagnosis, disease management and health care delivery,” said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen dean of Pitt’s School of Medicine.

Through this multi-year collaboration, Leidos and Pitt will drive advances in critical areas including:

• Research and technology development: Joint research projects will explore new imaging methods, advanced scanning technologies to analyze tissue samples, and improved techniques for analyzing medical images with precision.

• Workforce development and education: The initiative will cultivate the next generation of health care and AI innovators through comprehensive educational programs, including industry-focused best practices, annual symposiums, and hands-on internship opportunities where students will collaborate directly with Leidos experts.

“We want these tools to impact as many people as possible globally,” said Hooman Rashidi, executive director of CPACE and associate dean of AI in medicine at Pitt’s School of Medicine. “Leidos can help get them into many more hands, ensuring that they are validated properly and get through the right regulatory frameworks.”

By merging academic excellence with technological innovation, the collaboration is poised to redefine the future of healthcare delivery and disease management.

“This relationship with Leidos serves as a catalyst to expedite our mission,” said Liron Pantanowitz, professor and chair of Pitt’s Department of Pathology. “Industry partnership will help broaden the impact of Pitt’s innovation.”