Dr. Azizi Seixas Honored With Presidential Early Career Award
Established by President Bill Clinton in 1996, the award recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers.
Azizi Seixas, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, recently received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), one of the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government.
“This award reflects the Miller School’s deep commitment to advancing digital health,” said Dr. Seixas, director of The Media and Innovation Lab, associate director of the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences and interim chair of the Department of Informatics and Health Data Science at the Miller School.
Leaders in STEM Education
Dr. Seixas, whose research is largely supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was one of nearly 400 U.S. scientists and engineers who were honored by President Biden on January 14 for their high-impact contributions to STEM fields. Established by President Clinton in 1996, the award recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. Awardees include two prior recipients from the University of Miami.
“The PECASE program highlights the importance of advancing innovative science and technology to address critical challenges in our society,” said Dr. Seixas. “This recognition, which is like a Nobel Prize for early-career scientists, underscores the transformative potential of our collective work and real-world impact while expanding awareness of STEM careers, and finding innovative solutions for our nation’s future.”
Dr. Seixas leads a groundbreaking digital health study that uses data from wearables and in-home sensors to create “digital twins.” Technology delivers precise, personalized medicine based on data collected directly from individuals and their local environments.
“Being able to monitor health remotely, 24/7, will advance precision medicine, lead to new health discoveries and help determine what treatments can be delivered at home,” he said.
Digital Tools to Improve Health
Dr. Seixas has also launched an NIH-supported initiative to understand the mechanisms of healthy aging and develop digital biomarkers. He recently completed a study using virtual reality tools to improve maternal mental health, with a focus on expecting and post-partum mothers from underserved communities.
Along with his research, Dr. Seixas is building industry partnerships to bring potential innovative therapies to UHealth – the University of Miami Health System and provide support for early-stage ventures.
“We want health systems to become producers of new technology, as well as consumers,” he said. “It can be costly for companies to tailor their solutions to health care systems. Because we have direct contact with patients, we can drive those conversations and be valued assets to our partners.”
We need to provide more technology support for family, pediatrics and primary care practitioners. This is essential for maintaining their enduring value to patients, as well as to the nation’s health systems.
Dr. Azizi Seixas
Dedicated to advancing health for all, Dr. Seixas was a key leader in the NIH-funded AIM AHEAD program, which looks to increase the participation of underrepresented researchers and communities in artificial intelligence modeling and applications.
“We are also reaching out to the South Florida educational community, to support training the next generation of scientists and engineers,” he added.
Technology to Support Patients
Looking ahead, Dr. Seixas says it is essential for academic medical centers to deliver new AI and machine learning tools to community and federal primary care centers.
“We need to provide more technology support for family, pediatrics and primary care practitioners,” he said. “This is essential for maintaining their enduring value to patients, as well as to the nation’s health systems.”
The PECASE award is the third honor Dr. Seixas has received in recent months. The Academy of Science and Engineering and Medicine of Florida honored Dr. Seixas as a “rising star” at its 2024 annual meeting in November in Orlando, where he also gave a keynote address to the attendees.
In December, Dr. Seixas received the prestigious Tipping Point Award from T-Mobile and noted author and innovator Malcolm Gladwell, who selected him for the award.
“Many thanks to my team at the Miller School and The Media and Innovation Lab, as well as my wonderful collaborators,” he said. “Our university is gaining national recognition for our leading-edge work in digital health.”
Tags: AI, artificial intelligence, Department of Informatics and Health Data Science, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, digital health, digital twins project, Dr. Azizi Seixas, Media and Innovation Lab, technobiology, Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences