Using AI to enhance empathy in patient-provider interactions
Official title: Empathy for Everyone: Generative AI that Improves Patient-Provider Cultural Attunement in Real Time
Funded at Empathy Rocks INC · NIH-11082351 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a smart AI tool that helps doctors and healthcare providers better understand and connect with patients from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, making it easier for everyone to communicate and stay engaged in mental health treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Empathy Rocks INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bellevue, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $223,705 |
| NIH project number | 5R43MH135674-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11082351 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds who are seeking mental health treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a generative AI system that improves cultural attunement between patients and healthcare providers in real-time. By focusing on the unique needs of racial and ethnic minorities, the project seeks to enhance the understanding and responsiveness of providers to the lived experiences of their patients. The AI technology will analyze interactions and provide feedback to help providers engage more effectively, ultimately aiming to reduce dropout rates in mental health treatment among these populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health treatment retention and outcomes for racial and ethnic minority patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that enhancing cultural attunement can significantly improve patient-provider relationships, making this approach promising and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Empathy Rocks INC
Bellevue, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lord, Sarah Peregrine — Empathy Rocks INC
- Study coordinator: Lord, Sarah Peregrine
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.