Federal initiative to transform diabetes care for seniors at UND

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — UND has landed a major award to use AI to predict and prevent serious diabetes-related complications before they require emergency care.

The award includes up to $16.9 million in federal funding and an additional $3 million in industry matching funds.

UND researchers will work with SafetySpect, ComDel Innovation, and Edgewood Healthcare to help develop Edge4Care.ai.

It will be used to identify wound risks early.

Each year, more than one million people develop diabetic foot ulcers, leading to over 130,000 amputations nationwide.

“This project exemplifies what becomes possible when academia, industry and care providers work as a unified innovation ecosystem,” said Kouhyar Tavakolian, professor of Biomedical Engineering.

David G. Armstrong, Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Neurological Surgery at University of Southern California and a member of the project’s leadership team said, “By bringing the power of AI directly to the patient’s bedside, we are bridging the gap between high-tech capability and high-touch care.”