Researchers at the University of Washington Tacoma, led by professor Martine De Cock (pictured), are advancing rare disease research through privacy-preserving AI. Her work enables secure analysis of sensitive medical data, allowing collaboration across institutions without compromising patient privacy. In partnership with Sage Bionetworks, her team has developed AI tools that support safe and confidential data sharing.
A key component is the use of synthetic data, which is computer-generated patient information, that is shared at varying levels of detail based on access. This approach expands collaboration while maintaining strong privacy protections. With financial support from UW Tacoma and the National Science Foundation, De Cock’s work aims to accelerate new treatments and improve healthcare outcomes while also offering hands-on training for students, preparing them to use AI responsibly in healthcare research.