● NSERC CREATE Training Initiative
U of T
McGill
Polytechnique
NSERC
U of T
McGill
Polytechnique
NSERC
U of T
McGill
Polytechnique
NSERC
The Initiative
AID4HS unites three research-intensive universities and a network of cross-sector partners to train researchers who can build, integrate, and responsibly deploy AI as an active collaborator in scientific discovery.
The application of AI in health sciences research is undergoing a fundamental shift — from AI as a retrospective analytical tool to agentic AI systems that contribute to scientific reasoning, experimental design, and knowledge synthesis.
This transition is already reshaping the scientific landscape. Systems can now synthesize knowledge from millions of scientific articles, design adaptive clinical trials, and generate biomedical hypotheses — tasks that extend well beyond traditional AI capabilities. Yet a critical gap persists in Canada's training landscape: graduate programs in AI for health remain siloed, and few pathways exist for researchers to develop the skills needed to deploy agentic AI in discovery, or for health-sciences researchers to learn to work with AI as an active partner.
AID4HS is a six-year interdisciplinary training initiative that engages academia, industry, knowledge users, hospitals, and government organizations across the AI and health-sciences ecosystems. It builds sustainable national connections and expands Canada's capacity in AI-for-health research training — producing a pipeline of highly qualified researchers with a deep understanding of the potential, challenges, methodologies, and toolkits of responsible AI integration.
The program cultivates two complementary capabilities. The first is co-integration — learning to work effectively with agentic AI as active collaborators in ongoing discovery pipelines. The second is co-development — acquiring the capacity to shape and refine the design of agentic systems themselves, ensuring alignment with the operational and ethical constraints of the health sector. Both skill sets are largely absent from current training programs.
Objectives
Develop depth in knowledge synthesis, experimental design, and hypothesis generation, with a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges of integration.
Build the ability to design, adapt, and work alongside agentic AI systems for health-sciences discovery.
Acquire the know-how to work across AI, health sciences, and experimental research methodologies.
Encounter the breadth of AI-in-health applications through case studies and engagement with a range of sectors.
Develop communication, leadership, and equity-focused competencies through formalized training.
Access networking and sectoral exposure that prepare trainees for leadership across academia, healthcare, industry, and policy.
National Scope
AID4HS leverages a consortium of leading universities and cross-sector partners spanning two provinces. By embedding trainees in clinical, policy, and industry environments — and encouraging cross-provincial mobility — the program builds durable relationships that strengthen Canada's research workforce.
This whole-of-society approach ensures real-world impact: collaborating organizations contribute experiential training expertise, help shape trainee research topics, and create an ideal platform for trainees as they move into their careers.
Meet Our Partners"AID4HS will strengthen the workforce and position Canada as a leader in responsible, AI-driven scientific discovery."
Continue
Three thematic pillars frame every trainee's work — each targeting a distinct but interconnected facet of scientific discovery.
View the Research Pillars