A research project conducted by Lauren Hamel, Ph.D., MBA, was selected for the first round of internal funding for Wayne State University’s (WSU) Grand Challenges research program.
Dr. Hamel, co-leader of the Population Studies (PS) Research Program at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and associate professor of Oncology at WSU School of Medicine, received a Seed Grant award for “AI-Driven Modeling of Cancer Care Communication and Outcome Patterns to Advance Health Equity and Personalized Health Care.” Her co-principal investigators include Felicity Harper, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, member of the Supportive Oncology Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and the PS Research Program at Karmanos and professor of Oncology; Inas Khayal, Ph.D., associate professor of Oncology; Ammar Sukari, M.D., medical oncologist, leader of the Head and Neck Oncology MDT, member of the Breast Cancer, Thoracic Oncology, and Phase I Clinical Trials MDTs, member of the Molecular Therapeutics (MT) Research Program at Karmanos, and professor of Oncology; and Suzan Arslanturk, Ph.D., associate professor of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering at WSU.
The Seed Grant Program awards aim to tackle complex research questions through an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach that is not feasible in an individual research lab. Projects support teams of researchers interested in pursuing a large-scale, center-sized funding opportunity in one of the four Grand Challenges areas over the next one to two years. Grants may be used for activities that seed the capacity for larger, long-term projects, including obtaining preliminary data, building partnerships (e.g., workshops, focus groups, stipends for community partners) and engaging students in research.
In 2025, Wayne State University identified four of the world’s most pressing challenges as a framework for action. From environmental solutions and personalized health care to responsible AI and smart mobility, the Grand Challenges initiative will turn discoveries into tools that improve lives, strengthen economies and build a better tomorrow.
For more information about the Grand Challenges, visit https://research.wayne.edu/grand-challenges.
Originally published at Today@Wayne.