Coding COVID-19: Computer Scientists Create Vaccination Strategies Using A.I.

Beyond Research

Throughout the pandemic, front-line healthcare workers and public health officials have been taxed with making difficult decisions about where to expend their finite resources, like beds, test-kits, and eventually vaccines. Dr. James Hughes is an assistant professor in St. Francis Xavier University’s department of computer science. Listen as he explains how his research team is using artificial intelligence to help public health officials answer the question “Who should we vaccinate first?”

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-coding-covid19-computer-scientists-create-vaccination-strategies-using-ai/

In Season 1, Episode 8 – Coding COVID-19: Computer Scientists Create Vaccination Strategies Using A.I., we cover:

0:51 – How the COVID-19 pandemic shifted focus of applied AI work

3:59 – Using AI to discover and investigate new strategies for COVID-19 testing and treatment

5:56 – Where did this research fit with the announcement of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines

8:01 – How could this work be used in rolling out vaccines

12:36 – Can social networks be understood using AI?

15:43 – Differences between existing modelling and this modelling

19:30 – Next steps for the tool

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. James Hughes is an assistant professor in St. Francis Xavier University’s department of computer science. His research team is leading a study that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to select best strategies for COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment in Nova Scotian communities.

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