Drainpipe Participates in the 2nd meeting of the AI for Health UN Global Initiative in Singapore
The Second Meeting of the AI for Health Global Initiative was held March 16th-19th, 2025, at the National University of Singapore’s Centre for Life Sciences. The AI for Health UN Global Initiative is a collaborative effort between the ITU, WHO, and WIPO. This week’s meeting focused on status updates on current projects and planning for deliverables to be presented at the next Global Initiative meeting, to be announced by the UN.
In 2018 at the UN’s AI for Good Global Summit, researchers from around the world gathered and identified a need to provide guidance on the use of AI in Healthcare. After years of research as Focus Group AI for Health (in partnership with the ITU and WHO), the Focus Group’s efforts were formally rolled into a Global Initiative at the AI for Health UN Global Initiative in 2023 with Drainpipe CEO Dominick Romano in attendance.
In November 2022, Mr. Romano joined the Focus Group AI for Health as a Contributor to the Topic Group AI for Radiology. In March 2023, Mr. Romano attended the Focus Group AI for Health’s meeting at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While at the Harvard Innovation Laboratory, Mr. Romano presented research on lossless compression for medical imaging. Mr. Romano’s research was incorporated to the Group’s technical specifications which provide guidance to UN Agencies for ongoing nation state discussions on the safe use of AI in Healthcare settings.
Today, Mr. Romano and Drainpipe continue to carry on this work as part of the UN Global Initiative. Mr Romano states “The efforts of every contributor from what I have seen, have been wholly genuine, and scientifically focused to provide the greatest guidance with consideration of research throughout the world. This research is of the best work I have ever seen conducted, which is no small testament to the leadership who have catalyzed a global effort. From Sameer Punjari at the WHO, to Simao Campos at the ITU, to Thomas Weigand and others from Fraunhofer HHI, I have been incredibly impressed with the professionalism and integrity of research performed.” Dominick adds “It has been the honor of a lifetime to take part in such an important effort, and to join colleagues who have incredible backgrounds in global standardization of technology. This work isn’t just important, it is vital to ensuring AI driven systems are safely designed and calibrated for use in healthcare throughout the world”.
More information about the Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health can be found at the sites below:
