A researcher from the Cullen College of Engineering is contributing to a project that has received $391,588 in funding from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) to apply artificial intelligence in the design of safer and more effective organ-targeted drug delivery systems.
Hien Van Nguyen, an associate professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors, is playing a key role in the initiative.
NIBIB operates under the umbrella of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The project’s lead principal investigator is Prashant Dogra, an assistant research professor of Mathematics in Medicine at Houston Methodist.
According to Nguyen, nanoparticles (NPs) offer significant potential as targeted drug delivery vehicles. However, optimizing their pharmacokinetics (PK) to reach specific organs remains a major challenge. This limitation hinders the clinical adoption of NPs, as off-target accumulation often leads to reduced efficacy and safety concerns.
To address these issues, the research team proposes the development of a toxicology-integrated, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK-Tox) using AI. This model aims to accurately predict whole-body exposure and safety profiles of novel nanomaterials based solely on their structural properties, dosage, and route of administration—enabling more rational and effective NP design.
Nguyen has recently been involved in several high-impact projects focused on responsible AI in healthcare. In October, he led a study published in Nature exploring how international air travel contributed to the spread of COVID-19. He is also engaged in a separate NIH-funded initiative that uses AI to improve health outcomes in underserved communities.
Nguyen joined the faculty of the Cullen College of Engineering in 2016. For more information about his research and his lab, visit his website.