The aICU-programme receives innovation award for research on AI-based decision support in intensive care
The aICU research programme at Karolinska Institutet and Södersjukhuset has been named Innovation of the Year by Region Stockholm. The award was presented at Innovation Fund Day on 14 October and was received by Villiam Kildal, researcher at the Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset.
In intensive care, many complex decisions need to be made under time pressure. Within the aICU programme, researchers work closely with healthcare professionals to develop and evaluate AI-based decision support tools. The aim is to develop safe and reliable tools for different patient groups and healthcare settings, while establishing a scalable process for their development, evaluation and eventual introduction into clinical care. To support this work, an advanced research environment has been established at Karolinska Institutet, closely integrated with clinical practice.
Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset and Region Stockholm are now working together to connect this research environment to real-time intensive care data. This will enable prospective testing of AI models in intensive care, initially without influencing patient care or clinical decisions. The safety and performance of the systems will be carefully evaluated before they can be used to support clinical care.
The first areas of application focus on mechanical ventilation and discharge from intensive care. Decision support tools are being developed to help assess how long patients are likely to require mechanical ventilation, the risk of needing further respiratory support after ventilation has ended, and the risk of unplanned ICU readmission after discharge.
At Region Stockholm’s Innovation Fund Day, the project on AI-based decision support systems in intensive care was named Innovation of the Year. Villiam Kildal received the award on behalf of the project.