Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 20, 2023: Infinite Brain Technologies (IBT) and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) have this week entered a five-year research and development agreement. The two industry thought leaders will form a joint research lab in order to develop precise, personalized Digital Therapeutics (DTx) for human brain health by optimizing the power of artificial intelligence technologies.
The collaboration looks to capitalize on IBT capacity in the development and commercialization of digital therapeutics alongside MBZUAI expertise in artificial intelligence, with the ultimate goal of realizing powerful, personalized brain and mental disorder treatments.
“The marriage between brain science and AI technology will lead to critical breakthroughs in brain health. The collaboration between IBT and MBZUAI has been forged to facilitate those advancements,” said the Founder and Chairman of IBT, Dr. Wei Sun. “A better understanding of causal relationships between elements of cognitive training and improvements of mental conditions will provide us with insights to develop precise digital therapeutics for brain health.”
According to the WHO, about one in eight people worldwide live with a mental disorder; In total, nearly one billion people suffer from mental health problems.[1] Currently, around 280 million people suffer from depression, 301 million people live with anxiety, while globally more than 24 million people had schizophrenia.[2] In terms of neurodevelopmental disorders, the worldwide estimates of prevalence of ADHD are 5-7% of the youth population,[3] and about 1% of children has ASD.[4]
“A core element of the university’s research mission is related to healthcare, as we aim to improve outcomes and quality of life through the deployment of AI-based solutions,” said MBZUAI Deputy Department Chair of Machine Learning and Director of the Center for Integrative Artificial Intelligence, Kun Zhang. “This new collaboration with IBT has the potential to significantly increase our understanding of brain health, ideally resulting in both physical and mental wellness benefits for patients.”
“At IBT, we have a strong data science and engineering team that is capable of designing, developing, deploying and scaling digital solutions in a short period of time. We are excited to join forces with MBZUAI and specifically, Dr. Kun Zhang’s team to work on some of the most advanced topics in Machine Learning for brain science,” said Justin Jia, co-founder and CTO of IBT.
MBZUAI machine learning researchers investigate the development of algorithms which can improve automated cognition, perception, and action, with a focus on both fundamental and applied research in the areas of health, climate, and education. Together, MBZUAI and IBT aim to explore the unknown areas of brain science and push the boundaries of mental health intervention.
“We have long believed that there exist significant opportunities for joint research and development of technology and healthcare breakthroughs between Abu Dhabi and China,” said Founder and Managing Director of (IBT Investor) MSA Capital, Jenny Zeng. “MSA Capital has supported these initiatives from their earliest days by bringing industry leading companies like IBT from China to Abu Dhabi where they encounter world-class infrastructure and partners driven by a visionary national strategic imperative for innovation.
About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)
MBZUAI is a graduate research university focused on artificial intelligence, computer science, and digital technologies across industrial sectors. The university aims to empower students, businesses, and governments to advance artificial intelligence as a global force for positive progress. MBZUAI offers various graduate programs designed to pursue advanced, specialized knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence, including computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing. For more information, please visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae.
About Infinite Brain Technologies (IBT)
IBT is a leading player in Digital Therapeutics(“DTx”) with an experienced cross-functional team operating at the intersection of neuroscience and digital technology. IBT started out by developing and commercializing prescription based DTx to cognitive impaired patients due to a variety of mental and neuro disorders. IBT has successfully developed and licensed out their DTx solutions for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder “ADHD” and Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment “PSCI” to a global pharmaceutical company in 2021 and their DTx for Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia “CIAS” was awarded a government grant in China in 2022. IBT expands from cognitive improvement and currently has a strong pipeline focusing on brain disorders and mental wellness. Visit https://www.wjbrain.com/en for more information.
About MSA Capital
MSA Capital is a global investment firm founded in 2014 that focuses on private venture and growth assets. The firm manages over USD 2 billion and invests in highly innovative and disruptive companies in the biotechnology, enterprise-facing core technology, and consumer sectors.
[1] World Health Organization, 2022. World mental health report: transforming mental health for all.
[2] Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx), (https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/, accessed 10 Feb 2023)
[3] Hinshaw, S. P. (2018). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): controversy, developmental mechanisms, and multiple levels of analysis. Annual review of clinical psychology, 14, 291-316.
[4] Zeidan, J., Fombonne, E., Scorah, J., Ibrahim, A., Durkin, M. S., Saxena, S., … & Elsabbagh, M. (2022). Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update. Autism Research, 15(5), 778-790.