Auburn, AL — On Feb. 6, 2025, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), in partnership with the Center for Health Services Research (CHSR) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), launched a transformative project aimed at enhancing surveillance of biothreats. This project is supported by a $3.5 million grant from the Department of Defense (DoD), which will advance the development of a cutting-edge, AI-driven public health dashboard. The dashboard will enable real-time monitoring and response to emerging biothreats, strengthening both military and civilian public health systems.
The project focuses on expanding syndromic surveillance capabilities—an early warning system designed to detect emerging health threats before clinical or laboratory confirmation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, syndromic surveillance systems played a vital role in early detection and response, helping to mitigate the spread of the virus. The new system developed by SWAGƵpromises to provide even faster, more efficient responses, offering immediate insights into potential public health threats. P. Gunnar Brolinson, DO, FAOASM, FACOFP, FAAFP, the vice president for research at VCOM, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the new surveillance system.
The innovative system will integrate data from the Via Learning Management System (VLMS) at VCOM, a HIPAA-compliant database with more than 4.8 million diagnostic entries. This data, combined with real-time surveillance insights, will help track a wide range of diseases, from flu-like illnesses to chronic conditions such as asthma and cancer. By correlating health trends with environmental factors, the system can uncover hidden drivers of illness and predict future health challenges.
One of the standout features of the system is its use of advanced technologies in collaboration with the Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center (AAICE) and the AUBix data center. These partnerships enable the system to process vast amounts of data efficiently, providing continuous surveillance and insights that are especially valuable in military settings. The ability to track disease outbreaks around military installations will allow the Department of Defense to maintain operational readiness and ensure that any potential biothreats are detected early.
Fred Rawlins, DO, co-principal investigator on the project and chief medical officer for VLMS, noted the value of tracking student clinical experiences through VLMS, which provides crucial early health data from students across rural, underserved areas.
While the system has significant implications for military healthcare, its application extends beyond military bases. The SWAGƵteam is working to ensure that rural and underserved communities across Alabama also benefit from enhanced surveillance. By providing these areas with real-time data on disease trends, the system promises to improve health outcomes in regions that might otherwise be left behind in terms of access to timely public health information. Tracey Perez Koehlmoos, PhD, MHA, director of the Center for Health Services Research at USU, highlighted the importance of the SWAGƵpartnership in advancing this research, stating, “The work at VCOM-Auburn is a critical piece of our efforts to improve both military healthcare and the broader public health landscape.”
U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, also provided a statement about the significance of the project, particularly to Alabama. “I am incredibly proud to see VCOM-Auburn secure this contract,” Rep. Rogers said. “This contract will further cement East Alabama’s place as a leader in the defense industry, and I am excited to see VCOM-Auburn continue to succeed.”
This project marks a significant milestone for VCOM-Auburn, positioning the campus as a leader in advancing biothreat surveillance and public health research. The development of this AI-driven surveillance system is set to play a pivotal role in shaping future responses to emerging health threats, ultimately improving both military and civilian healthcare delivery across the nation.
