Autonomous AI-Powered ADVOCATE Program for Heart Failure Treatment
The ADVOCATE program, launched to improve the treatment processes of heart failure patients, is receiving millions of dollars in funding.
Government health research agency ARPA-H has announced it will provide $62.7 million in funding to develop artificial intelligence bots to guide heart failure treatment.
Scope of the ADVOCATE Program
Under the program named ADVOCATE, the goal is to develop FDA-approved, partially autonomous AI devices. These devices are intended to assist in assessing patient symptom severity, prescribing medications, and ordering laboratory tests.
Initial Funding Recipients
On Wednesday, ARPA-H announced that the first tranche of grants has been awarded to health technology companies Atman Health, UpDoc, and Tempus AI, along with teams from Stanford University, Duke University, and Kaiser Permanente.
Budget and Funding Plan
The amount committed for the first year was set at $33.7 million, with the remaining portion subject to renegotiation based on milestones achieved in the project.
Barriers to Treatment Access
It was noted that millions of people in the U.S. living with heart failure fail to receive optimal treatment due to difficulties in accessing specialist doctors, and it is hoped that the developed AI agents will fill this gap.