The Potential for AI in Discovery Science [Spring 2025 HRA Members Meeting, March 13, 2025]

Artificial Intelligence (AI), including powerful large language models (LLMs), is reshaping how scientific research is conducted. From generating insights through data analysis to assisting in the identification of research questions, AI is becoming an essential tool for discovery science. This session explored the transformative potential of AI and highlighted how it accelerates the pace of scientific discovery. Our panelists discussed real-world applications of AI, illustrating how these tools go beyond traditional methods to support hypothesis generation, refine experimental design, and uncover patterns hidden within massive datasets. Attendees learned how AI is not only enhancing discovery but also paving the way toward tangible outcomes, such as improved diagnostics, innovative treatments, and ultimately, cures for diseases.

Moderator

Ashok Srinivasan, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer, Lipedema Foundation

Ashok is the Chief Science Officer of the Lipedema Foundation where he seeks to translate advances in precision medicine to Lipedema, in order to provide a point of entry for research aimed at scientific understanding that might lead to biomarkers and effective therapeutics.

Educated at the University of Madras, India, and the University of Cambridge, England, Ashok holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, a staff scientist at the NIH, and held faculty positions at the University of Pittsburgh. As the Translational Research Scientist for NSABP Foundation/NRG Pittsburgh, Ashok served as a molecular genetics/genomics expert in developing scientific rationales for 10+ clinical trials supporting therapeutic advancements for breast and colorectal cancer. Prior to joining LF, Ashok was the Chief Scientific Officer of the Autism Impact Fund, a venture capital fund targeting autism, neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health, and associated complex chronic conditions. His technical expertise extends across molecular biology, genetics, virology, genomics, genome sequencing, and computational analyses applied to model organisms and humans.

Speakers

Cathy Higgins, PhD
Senior Vice President, Science Programs, Stand Up 2 Cancer

Catherine Higgins, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Science Programs, Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), ensures strategic planning, development, and implementation of SU2C’s scientific programs, with focus on project oversight, program budgeting, and supervisory management for the support team, portfolio, and clinical studies. She collaborates with multiple boards, donors, scientific advisors, reviewers, patient advocates, and researchers worldwide, plus pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Previously, she was Director, Human Research Protection Program, Texas A&M University, responsible for over 2,100 projects and transformed the program to accreditation in three years. She was Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, teaching graduate-level clinical translational research courses. Formerly, she was Program Director, Gulf Coast Consortia, involved in multi-institutional, interdisciplinary research development in Houston’s Texas Medical Center and administered seed grant programs, managed large-scale research programs, and oversaw shared equipment facilities.

Her postdoctoral research was in human atherosclerosis biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine. Her Ph.D. in chemistry specializing in protein folding and biophysical chemistry was from Tulane University. She taught chemistry at Jefferson Forest High School, Virginia. She completed her B.S. specializing in polymer chemistry at The College of William and Mary in Virginia. Her research was featured on The FEBS Journal and Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology covers.

Overall, Dr. Higgins has over 20 years’ research experience, ranging from basic sciences and clinical translational research to research development and compliance, and is interested in fostering impactful scientific research for integration into the community and benefit to humankind.

Andrew White, PhD
Co-Founder and Head of Science, Future House

Andrew White is co-founder and head of science at FutureHouse, a San Francisco AIxBio non-profit research organization and tenured professor of chemical engineering at University of Rochester. Andrew White is a researcher with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and books across the domains of large language models in chemistry, explainable artificial intelligence, statistical mechanics, and chemical engineering. He has won junior investigator awards from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health along with professional and teaching awards for excellence as a chemical engineer. Andrew is an active member of the scientific community as a peer reviewer for over 30 journals, multiple national and private grant awarding institutions, and serves on the Chemical Sciences Roundtable at the National Academy of Science. Andrew is also a science communicator with large followings on X and LinkedIn and has been interviewed in multiple publications such as the New York Times, Bloomberg, Nature, Financial Times, and Science. Andrew serves on multiple scientific advisory boards across biotech. He has contributed to the ongoing debate around safety of artificial intelligence as an OpenAI red teamer, speaking at multiple policy summits, and visiting the White House to advise multiple agencies.