Wenyao Xu elected AIMBE Fellow

By Mylous Hairston

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has elected Wenyao Xu, Carl V. Granger Endowed Chair and professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, to its College of Fellows.

AIMBE fellows are recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in medical and biological engineering. Being elected to the College of Fellows is one of the most prestigious recognitions for medical and biological engineers.

Xu’s research on the integration of wearable devices and mobile AI could have a significant impact on the lives of patients. His health applications research includes post stroke rehabilitation and recovery, detect early signs of autism spectrum disorder in children, and screen older adults for hearing loss by scanning their eyes.  

He first began to explore how information technology and AI could help health professionals while working toward his PhD at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“That’s where my research started, to develop better tools to support health professionals to make their workflow easier, faster, and also safer for their clients, the patient,” says Xu.

His research has been focused on those objectives for more than 13 years and will continue through his role as the director of the University at Buffalo Center for Translational AI and Digital Health. The new center will develop AI‑enabled sensing and decision tools for point‑of‑care and remote health monitoring, and design and run pilot studies and early clinical validation projects with health partners.

Another important component of the center is inspiring future generations of researchers and clinicians, which Xu believes is vital. The center aims to offer experiential learning opportunities in AI and health for UB students and learners in grades K-12.

Induction as an AIMBE fellow is the latest prestigious recognition for Xu. Earlier this year, he was named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the society’s highest honor. He is also the founder of Auspex Medix, a startup that is developing AI-enabled medical devices and services, and he has published more than 300 technical papers and holds 11 patents.

While the honor from AIMBE is an important milestone for Xu, he believes that his UB colleagues are also deserving.

“I feel that at UB, we have a lot of researchers that deserve the recognition,” says Xu. “I think UB should have more experts and professionals recognized as fellows.”