Making health AI datasets fairer and more reliable
Evidence-based guidance to support internal and external validity of AI healthcare datasets
['FUNDING_R01'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11180202
This project looks at how health AI datasets are put together and used so AI tools work better and fairer for patients.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11180202 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team will review 50 NIH-funded health AI projects to see how researchers define and handle generalizability and systematic error. They will analyze project documents, dataset descriptions, and technical practices and may interview researchers about how patient data were selected, labeled, and used. The researchers will use a "microethics" approach to connect everyday decisions in AI projects to their impact on data quality and bias. They will turn what they learn into practical guidance for building datasets with stronger internal and external validity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not recruit patients directly; it focuses on how researchers collect and use patient data in AI projects.
Not a fit: Patients looking for a new treatment or direct clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefits during this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to clearer standards that help AI tools be safer, more accurate, and fairer for patients across different hospitals and populations.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown inconsistent practices around generalizability and bias, and this ethics-focused review across 50 projects is relatively novel in scope.
Where this research is happening
STANFORD, UNITED STATES
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY — STANFORD, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MARTINEZ-MARTIN, NICOLE A — STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MARTINEZ-MARTIN, NICOLE A
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.