Columbia Engineering Partners with Mailman School of Public Health and NYC to Launch the City’s first Pandemic Response Institute

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday the launch of the City’s first Pandemic Response Institute (PRI), which will be operated by Columbia University, led by ICAP at the Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH). Columbia Engineering is a key partner with MSPH in this endeavor, aimed at preparing the City for future pandemics. The project is funded by an award from the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) with additional support from Columbia University and a consortium of academic, community, government, and corporate partners.

Columbia Engineering brings to PRI extensive engagement in research and development of critical health-related innovations, artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and computational science technologies. These include diagnostic and testing devices for rapid responses, human computer interaction systems for health information dissemination, data modeling for pandemic prediction, optimization processes such as those launched by the FDNY EMS ambulance system, and large-scale prototyping platforms that are integrated with NYC communities, such as COSMOS, the national wireless and smart city testbed in west Harlem.

“We have a wealth of experience piloting and implementing new technologies and health solutions,” said Columbia Engineering Interim Dean Shih-Fu Chang. “Our researchers have been at the forefront of efforts to develop, test, and deploy technologies for COVID-19 diagnosis, contact tracing, surveillance, therapeutics, and emergency response since the onset of the pandemic. We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with PRI partners to develop innovations that will ensure the preparedness of NYC in future possible pandemics.”

Among the corporate partners on the project is Amazon, with whom Columbia Engineering has a deep collaboration, through the the Center of Artificial Intelligence Technology and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program focused on supporting students from historically underrepresented populations to pursue STEM education and careers. “Columbia University has assembled a world-class team that is uniquely positioned to advance the strategic priorities and goals of the NYC Pandemic Response Institute. We are delighted to support this important and timely initiative,” said Prem Natarajan, Vice President, Alexa AI, Amazon.

Columbia Engineering’s focus will include an Innovation & Scaling Technical Core from the School led by Biomedical Engineering Professor Sam Sia, which will focus on efforts to pilot and scale up health innovations to improve preparedness and response for future public health emergencies. These innovations include diagnostic methods and devices, therapeutics and vaccines, information collection and dissemination through AI-enhanced technologies, and other medical supplies, as well as new service delivery models and operational improvements that support more efficient deployment of NYC’s resources in times of crisis.

A second key component of the Engineering School’s focus is the Data Collection, Sharing & Translation Technical Core, within the School led by Garud Iyengar, vice dean of Research and Tang Family Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. Collaborating with the Data Science Institute (DSI) and other partners, Columbia Engineering researchers will design and strengthen systems for real-time or near real-time data collection, sharing, and translation. The primary focus will be to ensure that New Yorkers receive the information they need at each stage of the public health emergency lifecycle, and that NYC agencies and organizations are equipped to deliver data-driven, targeted solutions to New Yorkers in a timely manner.

Columbia Engineering researchers will also draw upon the extensive expertise of its faculty whose research has been supported by the Urban Living Tech Innovations initiative launched last year. The goal of this program is to support creative cross-disciplinary research projects that develop and deploy advanced technologies for NYC in the face of COVID. In its first year, 10 faculty teams developed technology innovations for urban living in the face of COVID-19. Each team included a Columbia Engineering faculty member working with collaborators across the University to generate solutions that will not only engineer a speedy recovery for New York, but also will transform the city’s infrastructure and systems, define urban redevelopment, and minimize future disruptions—whether from the next pandemic, superstorms and sea-level rise, energy shortages, or other severe events or disasters. The program also offers student ignition awards to develop prototypes and start new ventures.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has opened our eyes to the critical need for strong and vibrant multisector partnerships to effectively protect New Yorkers from emergent health threats,” said Wafaa El-Sadr, University Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, and director of ICAP and Columbia World Projects, who is leading the PRI. “We are encouraged to count on the unparalleled experience and resources of Columbia Engineering to bring the latest, state-of-the-art innovations to this critical public health effort. And we further appreciate the critical engagement of corporate technological leaders, Amazon and Cepheid, whose world-class solutions will surely amplify the reach and efficacy of this initiative.”

“The New York City Health Department Quickie Lab network is a model for the country in its ability to rapidly pivot between decentralized testing for sexual health and urgent requirements for pandemic testing at scale. We are happy to be engaged with the PRI in developing novel testing solutions that enable more effective, equitable, and accessible public health strategies for all New Yorkers,” said Dr. David Persing, MD, Ph.D., EVP and Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Cepheid.

The PRI will be supported by $20 million in city capital funding for eligible costs and be dedicated to preparing New York City for future health emergencies and epidemics in a more effective and equitable manner, while positioning the city as a global leader to serve as a model for public health response.

Initial operational funding for the Pandemic Response Institute has been provided by Columbia University, which is providing $2.75 million over five years; CUNY School of Public Health, Amazon, and Cepheid, which are each providing $1 million over five years.