The Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation partners with AI-focused research labs across the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and other UAB schools.
This directory is designed to foster collaboration, promote knowledge exchange, and help students and researchers easily identify medical AI opportunities at UAB. Explore the labs below to learn more about the groundbreaking work being done at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare.
Human Imaging Core
Affiliation: Department of Radiology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: Data services (e.g. access to imaging data)
Areas of Focus: —
Areas of Expertise: Clinical Expertise
Contact: sarothenberg@uabmc.edu
Human Neuromodulation Laboratory
Affiliation: Department of Neurology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: —
Areas of Focus: Machine learning, brain–computer interface, neuromodulation, computational neuroscience, systems neuroscience
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Clinical Expertise, Biostatistics
Contact: hcwalker@uab.edu
HySonLab
Affiliation: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) & Department of Computer Science, UAB College of Arts and Sciences
Objective: HySonLab focuses on advancing Artificial Intelligence for Science, leveraging Generative AI, Geometric Deep Learning, and Multimodal Learning to drive breakthroughs in computational biology, drug discovery, bioinformatics, and medical image processing.
Areas of Focus: Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics, Drug Discovery, Medical Image Processing
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Biostatistics
Contact: thy@uab.edu
Engineering and Innovative Technology Development (EITD)
Affiliation: Engineering and Innovative Technology Development (EITD), UAB School of Engineering
Objective: Work with researchers to develop concepts, ideas, and prototypes through systematic stages (TRL) toward research advancement or commercialization.
Areas of Focus:
- Commercial software and medical device prototype development
- Automated segmentation and industrial radiograph analysis
- Autonomous perception for vehicles
- Early-stage technical development and SBIR/STTR grant support
- NASA payload development and science support
- AI/ML development for embedded systems
Areas of Expertise: Data Science, Clinical Expertise, Biostatistics
Contact: miskosr@uab.edu
Cardenas Lab
Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: Make high‑quality radiotherapy treatments accessible through AI
Areas of Focus: Automation, model development and clinical integration, cancer
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Clinical Expertise
Contact: cecardenas@uabmc.edu
Lasseigne Lab
Affiliation: Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: Develop genomic assays, algorithms, and software to map molecular processes affecting disease; data‑driven identification of drug targets; open‑source reproducible research.
Areas of Focus: Machine learning, genomics
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Data Science, Clinical Expertise, Biostatistics
Contact: bnp0001@uab.edu
Beas Lab
Affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: Investigate neural mechanisms of goal‑directed cognition and motivation using neuronal recordings and machine learning
Areas of Focus: Machine learning algorithms to analyze neuronal activity
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Data Science
Contact: sbeas@uab.edu
Division of Emerging Technologies
Affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: Explore emerging technologies enabling precision health
Areas of Focus: AI, machine learning, waveform analysis, time‑series analysis, perioperative medicine, critical care
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science
Contact: rmelvin@uabmc.edu
ANRY Lab
Affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering, UAB School of Engineering
Objective: Make sense of images and signals
Areas of Focus: Biomedical signal analysis, image/video analysis, machine learning, mathematical modeling, control systems
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science
Contact: anry@uab.edu
Steyn Lab
Affiliation: Department of Microbiology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine; Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
Objective: Pioneer human TB pathogenesis
Areas of Focus: Tuberculosis, AI, digital pathology, digital atlas, semantic ontology
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Data Science, Clinical Expertise, Biostatistics
Contact: asteyn@uab.edu
Image Quantification and Modeling Lab
Affiliation: Department of Radiology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: Develop AI/ML‑based tools for improved diagnosis and treatment planning in molecular imaging
Areas of Focus: AI, medical imaging, imaging AI
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science
Contact: yfang@uab.edu
Learning Utero‑to‑Neonate Machine‑Learning & AI‑Enabled Engineering Network (LUMEN‑Lab)
Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Objective: Use machine learning, sensing, and AI‑enabled engineering to understand risk pathways from pregnancy to neonatal period, improving maternal and infant outcomes
Areas of Focus: Machine learning, AI, pregnancy, perinatal and neonatal health, neuroprotection, digital health, health equity, precision medicine
Areas of Expertise: Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Biostatistics
Contact: vshukla@uabmc.edu
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