Breyer Family Foundation empowers students in the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) PhD track.

By Randy Fox
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The Breyer Family Foundation recently granted $400,000 to Harvard Medical School to empower a new generation of leaders at the intersection of artificial intelligence and health care. This funding supports students in the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) PhD track, enabling them to leverage large-scale biomedical data and apply advanced AI methodologies to develop innovative solutions that combine technology with patient care.

Launched in 2024, the AIM track, offered to PhD students in the HMS Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI), seeks to enhance global health care by improving both the quality and equity of health outcomes. It attracts talented students with strong quantitative skills in computer science, engineering, and mathematics who are also passionate about biology and medicine. The new grant establishes Breyer Graduate Fellows within this track.

I am proud to support this initiative, knowing that its graduates will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care and biomedical innovation.
Jim Breyer

Jim Breyer, MBA ’67, founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, describes the convergence of artificial intelligence and medicine as one of the most profound frontiers in human health and technology. He highlights the AIM PhD track’s pioneering role in preparing physician-scientists and computational biologists, stating, “These individuals will not only push the boundaries of discovery but also redefine how we diagnose, treat, and prevent disease—all while designing a health care system that delivers exceptional care with greater efficiency. I am proud to support this initiative, knowing that its graduates will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care and biomedical innovation.”

The AIM PhD track integrates advanced machine learning coursework with clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals, providing interdisciplinary training that strengthens students’ ability to drive change in health care systems. By immersing themselves in the practical applications of AI in health care, AIM students learn to accelerate diagnoses, personalize therapies, and reduce care costs through disease prediction. They collaborate with leading AI researchers and clinical scientists, positioning themselves to create technologies that significantly augment clinical decision-making and advance biomedical research.

DBMI Chair Isaac Kohane, MD, PhD, expressed gratitude for the support from the Breyer Family Foundation’s grant. “It allows us to provide a transformative educational experience, ensuring our students are equipped to make groundbreaking contributions to medical science and patient care,” says Kohane, who is also the Marion V. Nelson Professor of Biomedical Informatics at HMS and co-director of The Ivan and Francesca Berkowitz Family Living Laboratory Collaboration at HMS and Clalit Research Institute.