AI innovator tapped to lead new computational medicine center at University of Texas

Charley Taylor, Ph.D.

Credit: The University of Texas at Austin

The inventor of one of the most widely adopted artificial intelligence technologies in U.S. health care, has joined The University of Texas at Austin (UT) to lead a new Center for Computational Medicine.

Charley Taylor, Ph.D., an internationally recognized leader in AI, machine learning and digital twin technology, is the W.A. “Tex” Moncrief Jr. Chair in Computational Medicine at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences and a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Dell Medical School.

Computational medicine lives at the intersection of medicine, biology, mathematics, engineering, and computational science. According to a definition from Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering, computational medicine aims to advance health care by developing computational models of disease, personalizing these models using data from patients, and applying these models to improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Examples of how computational medicine is used in the real-world include models to discover novel risk biomarkers, predict disease progression, design optimal treatments, and identify new drug targets for applications such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.

UT’s Center for Computational Medicine will focus on developing advanced medical applications and modeling to simulate disease progression, predict outcomes and personalize care. The center will be part of a collaboration between UT’s Dell Medical School, and the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences.

“This is a game-changer not only for Texas, but for the future of health,” said Claudia Lucchinetti, M.D., dean of Dell Med and UT’s senior vice president for medical affairs, in a news release. “Charley Taylor’s talent and expertise in developing research breakthroughs into tools for preventive care, diagnosis and healing are unmatched. Combined with UT’s tradition of excellence in computing and engineering, we have assembled the building blocks to become a powerhouse in a field that’s driving many of the most important health care advances of our time.”

Taylor’s background includes co-founding HeartFlow in 2010. The company helped pioneer simulation-based medicine for diagnosing and treating heart disease through noninvasive AI and computer simulation methods now considered standard of care worldwide. In 2024, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to computational modeling of cardiovascular systems.

“Charley Taylor’s appointment marks the first time an Oden Institute chaired professor has been hired jointly with Dell Medical School,” said Karen Willcox, Ph.D., director of the Oden Institute. “There could not be a better time for Charley to join The University of Texas at Austin. His energy and experience will take our existing strengths in computational medicine to a new level, while his ability to bridge research and clinical impact will be critical in strengthening our relationship with Dell Medical School at this exciting time in the University’s emergence as a leader in health and well-being.”