The University of Texas at Austin has received a 2025 Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI) grant to help recruit Charles A. Taylor as director of its new Center for Computational Medicine. Taylor, who joined the university earlier this year, is recognized internationally for his work applying artificial intelligence in health care technology, particularly for improving cardiovascular disease diagnosis.
The new center is a joint effort between the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences and Dell Medical School, which serves as the anchor of the University of Texas Medical Center. Its goal is to develop advanced medical applications and computational models that simulate disease progression, predict patient outcomes, and personalize care. This initiative supports UT Austin’s ongoing development of an integrated academic health system.
“Texas leads the nation for Tier One research universities and is home to some of the brightest minds whose advancements in research and innovative new technologies are changing the world,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “I congratulate Dr. Charles Taylor, a distinguished researcher and member of the National Academy of Engineering, on his award from the Governor’s University Research Initiative to lead the new Center for Computational Medicine at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Taylor is an internationally recognized leader in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital twin technology. Through his world-class knowledge, he will further develop advanced medical applications leveraging artificial intelligence. Texas will continue to invest in higher education research by attracting top-tier researchers from around the world through the GURI program, improving the lives of Texans for generations.”
UT President Jim Davis also commented on state support: “The excellence of UT is built on world-class faculty like Dr. Taylor and sustained by the support of Gov. Greg Abbott and the UT System Board of Regents,” he said. “We are incredibly grateful to our state leaders for their support through the Governor’s University Research Initiative.”
Taylor founded Heartflow, which developed a noninvasive tool using imaging to simulate blood flow through coronary arteries—the first AI-enabled technology included in cardiology clinical practice guidelines. In 2023, The New England Journal of Medicine AI identified it as the most widely adopted artificial intelligence technology in U.S. health care.
Taylor has been recognized by several organizations: he was elected to both the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (in 2007). He earned his Ph.D in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and currently holds both an endowed chair at UT’s Oden Institute and a professorship at Dell Med.
He becomes just the third UT recipient since GURI began in 2015 under Governor Abbott; this matching grant program aims to help Texas higher education institutions attract leading researchers with global reputations to drive innovation across universities statewide.
