Researchers from Florida State University’s (FSU) College of Communication and Information (CCI), College of Social Work, and University of Florida (UF) Health have received a pilot award from the University of Florida–Florida State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) to develop an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) platform that could transform how psychosocial information is used in pediatric heart transplantation.
The newly funded CTSI pilot project A Reusable AI-Assisted Psychosocial Risk Synthesis Engine for Pediatric Transplant Evaluation, addressed a critical challenge in transplant care: making complex psychosocial information more accessible and actionable for healthcare teams. The collaboration between FSU and UF Health’s Congenital Heart Center includes researchers Dr. Zhe He, professor at the School of Information and Director of the Institute for Successful Longevity, along with Dr. Michael Killian, associate professor in the College of Social Work, and Dr. Dipankar Gupta, associate professor and Pediatric Heart Transplant Specialist at the UF Health Congenital Heart Center.
Children who are being evaluated for heart transplantation undergo assessments to help clinicians understand factors such as family support, mental health concerns, treatment adherence, and social challenges that may affect long-term transplant outcomes. While these assessments provide critical insights into a patient’s support system and overall well-being, the information is often buried within extensive clinical documentation.
“Our goal is not to replace clinicians with AI, but to give them better tools,” He said. “AI can help organize and summarize complex psychosocial information, allowing healthcare teams to identify support needs more efficiently and make more informed decisions. Ultimately, this means more personalized care and better support for children and families throughout the transplant process.”
The goal of the project is to develop an AI system that can identify psychosocial risk profiles in pediatric transplant patients by analyzing information contained in clinical notes. By transforming complex narrative assessments into organized insights, this tool could help clinicians make more informed decisions, provide more personalized care, and improve outcomes for patients and their families. The researchers also plan to create a reusable framework that could be adapted to other healthcare settings in the future.
“Pediatric heart transplantation is not just a medical challenge—it is also a social, behavioral, and information challenge,” said He. “Psychosocial factors such as family support, mental health, and treatment adherence can significantly influence outcomes after pediatric transplantation, yet much of this information remains buried in clinical notes.”
By bringing together experts in information science, social work, and medicine, the project demonstrates how research at FSU, and with its partners, can translate innovative ideas into meaningful impact for patients and families. It is a representation of the kind of research happening that brings together different fields of study with human-centered design, and addresses real-world challenges.
“At CCI, we focus on turning information into knowledge and knowledge into impact,” said He. “By collaborating across disciplines, we can develop innovative technologies that improve healthcare while keeping people and their needs at the center of the solution.”
This award reflects CCI and the School of Information’s growing impact on AI, health informatics, and interdisciplinary research. Expertise in information science can contribute directly to solving complex healthcare challenges while creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
For Dr. He, the project’s significance extends well beyond technological advancement and research impact.
“My hope is that this tool will help healthcare teams better understand the unique needs, challenges, and strengths of each patient and family,” Dr. Zhe He said. “By making psychosocial information more accessible and actionable, we can support more personalized care, earlier interventions, and ultimately better outcomes for children undergoing transplantation. At its core, this project is about using AI to help clinicians provide more compassionate and effective care.”