The University of North Dakota has secured a major federal investment of up to $19.9 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to lead a transformative national initiative aimed at improving diabetes care for older adults.
The multi-year award includes up to $16.9 million in federal funding, along with $3 million in industry matching support, positioning UND at the forefront of innovation in chronic disease prevention. The project will deploy Edge4Care.ai, a decentralized artificial intelligence platform designed to predict and prevent serious diabetes-related complications before they escalate into emergencies.
Diabetes remains one of the most costly and complex chronic conditions in the United States. Nationally, chronic diseases account for nearly $1 trillion in annual health care spending, and diabetes contributes significantly to that burden. Each year, more than one million Americans develop diabetic foot ulcers, leading to over 130,000 amputations. Many of these outcomes are preventable with earlier intervention and better risk monitoring.
The Edge4Care.ai platform aims to shift care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Unlike traditional cloud-based AI systems, this decentralized model processes data locally at the point of care. That approach enhances patient privacy, reduces reliance on constant internet connectivity, and improves access in rural and underserved communities. By delivering explainable, real-time insights directly to clinicians and caregivers, the system is designed to identify risk patterns early and support timely intervention.
“This project exemplifies what becomes possible when academia, industry and care providers work as a unified innovation ecosystem,” said Kouhyar Tavakolian, professor of biomedical engineering, director of UND’s BioInnovation Zone and principal investigator on the project. “Together, we are translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes, reduce health care costs and preserve independence for older adults.”
The initiative brings together a strong consortium of academic, clinical and industry expertise through the Senior Healthcare Innovation Consortium (SHIC):
- University of North Dakota — lead awardee providing research oversight and predictive modeling
- SafetySpect Inc. — lead technology innovator developing the AI platform
- ComDel Innovation — hardware manufacturing partner supporting U.S.-based production
- Edgewood Healthcare — clinical deployment and validation partner in senior care settings
By combining advanced AI, decentralized computing and real-world clinical integration, UND and its partners aim to redefine how diabetes is managed for seniors — particularly those in long-term care or rural communities where access to specialty care may be limited.
This award reflects not only a significant research milestone for UND, but also a broader commitment to building scalable, practical health solutions that can improve quality of life for aging populations nationwide.
Sources: University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines blog; EINPresswire announcement.
