by Annette Pinder

The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. (CHCB) and Cerebro NeuroTech, Inc. (Cerebro) are thrilled to announce a new initiative that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately detect and treat traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and sports-related concussions (SRCs) in underrepresented communities. The Center for Artificial Intelligence Innovation (CCAII) at CHCB, in partnership with Cerebro, will use patient data to enhance the ability of AI to train its Cerebro’s neural net medical software to better identify and treat these injuries.

TBIs account for over 1.5 million emergency visits annually in the U.S. Sadly, communities of color often experience delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes as a result of these injuries due to health care inequities. In fact, research shows that low-income and BIPOC populations are over 33% more likely to experience long-term disabilities due to untreated TBIs and SRCs. Cerebro’s neural net will help improve early detection to allow for more precise timely care to help reduce these outcomes.

Research also shows that the financial burden of TBIs in the U.S. is estimated to exceed 60 billion dollars annually in health care costs and lost productivity. Cerebro and CHCB are committed to reducing this number and eliminating health care disparities through earlier diagnosis and intervention. They are particularly excited about preliminary research data, which indicates that Cerebro’s AI models show a more than a 95% accuracy rate in predicting cognitive decline associated with TBIs, to allow earlier and more precise treatment. AI-powered neurocognitive predictive diagnostics also allows for detection and personalized treatment of traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative conditions, and cognitive impairments.

During the beta testing phase, Cerebro will collaborate with community health centers, public institutions, and schools, to make its technology available to diverse populations. The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., a Federally Qualified Health Center, provides high-quality, culturally focused health care to underserved populations at locations in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Cheektowaga, and Lockport, regardless of their financial status.

Dr. LaVonne Ansari, PhD, CHCB’s CEO/executive director, says, “CHCB’s mission has always been to provide comprehensive, culturally sensitive care to all individuals, particularly those underserved by the health care system. Our partnership with Cerebro brings advanced, equitable diagnostic tools to the table, ensuring that our community receives the best care possible, regardless of background or financial status.”

Paolo Alejandro Catilo, Cerebro’s CEO and chief engineer, says, “This collaboration is a natural extension of our commitment to AI and health equity that will help ensure that communities historically marginalized by the health care system have access to innovative, life-changing solutions, setting a new standard for addressing health care disparities.”

Learn more about this exciting initiative that uses patient data and the ongoing training of Cerebro’s AI-powered neural net to predictively diagnose and treat TBIs and SRCs in a video at chcb.net/CCAII. To make an appointment to be seen as a patient at CHCB, call 716-986-9199.