Novartis, Microsoft Aim to Transform Medicine with AI

Novartis has founded the Novartis AI innovation lab and has selected Microsoft as its strategic AI and data-science partner for this effort. The new lab aims to bolster Novartis AI capabilities from research through commercialization and to help accelerate the discovery and development of transformative medicines for patients worldwide, the company reports.

As part of the collaboration, Novartis and Microsoft have committed to a multi-year research and development effort. The alliance will focus on two core objectives: AI Empowerment and AI Exploration.

AI Empowerment. The lab will aim to bring the power of AI to the desktop of every Novartis associate. By bringing together vast amounts of Novartis datasets with Microsoft’s advanced AI solutions, the lab will aim to create new AI models and applications that can augment its associates’ capabilities to take on the next wave of challenges in medicine. 

Related: Mayo Clinic, Google To Form Healthcare Partnership

AI Exploration. The lab will use the power of AI to tackle some of the hardest computational challenges within life sciences, starting with generative chemistry, image segmentation and analysis for smart and personalized delivery of therapies, and optimization of cell and gene therapies at scale.

Microsoft and Novartis will also collaborate to develop and apply next-generation AI platforms and processes that support future programs across these two focus areas. The overall investment will include project funding, subject-matter experts, technology, and tools.