Meet the Researcher: Associate Professor Fatemeh Vafaee
Associate Professor Fatemeh Vafaee is an internationally recognised scientist in computational biomedicine. The Deputy Director of the UNSW Data Science Hub is Associate Professor at the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at UNSW.
A/Prof Vafaee established the Biomedical AI Laboratory and leads Med-Tech AI, a multi-institute, next-generation graduate program on AI-enabled medical technologies. Dr Vafaee is also the Founding Director of OmniOmics.AI Pty Ltd developing innovative AI solutions to accelerate personalised medicine and precision therapy.
Her contributions to the field have been recognised internationally, as the Winner of the prestigious Women in AI Asia-Pacific Award (WAI-APAC) in Health (2023) and Runner-Up of the WAI-APAC Innovator of the Year.
A/Prof Vafaee was also awarded the Mid-career Research Excellence Award from the Australian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Society in 2023.
Associate Professor Fatemeh Vafaee from UNSW. Credit: Supplied.
Dr Vafaee received her PhD in Artificial Intelligence (2011) from the School of Computer Science at the University of Illinois in Chicago, USA, followed by 2 multidisciplinary fellowships on computational biomedicine (2012 – 2017) at the University of Toronto, Canada, and the University of Sydney, Australia.
She is a renowned scientist in computational biomedicine with over a decade of experience in AI-integrated translational medicine and drug discovery through close partnerships with industry and governmental stakeholders.
How did you get involved in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence?
I received my PhD in Artificial Intelligence in 2011, during the emergence of modern AI technology. Towards the end of my PhD, I became intrigued by biomedical applications, particularly due to the vast amount of data and the yet unexplored potential of AI to address challenging problems in this field. This fascination prompted me to shift my focus towrds applying AI in biomedicine. Since then, I have been dedicated to harnessing the power of AI to drive innovation and solve critical issues in healthcare.
What’s been your most rewarding achievement or moment in your research career?
My career is filled with rewarding moments, not just in terms of conventional achievements but also in the lessons learned from significant setbacks, which I no longer view as failures. These experiences have been integral to my success. Among all these moments, the most gratifying achievement has been my ability to conduct translational research that makes a tangible impact on society. Translating research findings into real-world applications, especially those that improve public health, has been the pinnacle of my career. This accomplishment transcends traditional research success and underscores the societal value of my work.
What are you hoping to achieve in your career?
My primary goal is to make a significant difference in patients' lives by improving disease diagnosis and the efficacy of treatments. I aim to contribute to advancements that enable early and accurate detection of diseases, leading to better patient outcomes and more personalized treatment strategies.
Why is what you do important?
Imagine a future where a few drops of blood can detect cancer early or monitor treatment responses effectively without invasive procedures. We are at the forefront of this revolution, combining cutting-edge AI with biotechnological advancements to analyse thousands of molecular measurements from a small blood sample. Our work aims to decode complex molecular patterns associated with diseases, enabling early, accurate, and personalized diagnosis and treatment. This approach has the potential to transform healthcare, making it more efficient, less invasive, and tailored to individual patients' needs.
A/Prof Vafaee will speak about Big Data and Artificial Intelligence: Driving the Personalised Medicine of the Future at the next NSW Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series at the Parliament of NSW on Wednesday 19 June. Register.