The University of Arizona's Office of Research and Partnership held the 2025 Big Idea Challenge, which is an initiative that incentivises transdisciplinary, convergent research teams to incubate ideas, generate new insights, and launch transformative, high-impact projects with the potential for future extramural support. These projects will further enhance U of A’s position as a leader in producing game-changing research and innovation that tackles regional, national, and global challenges in six strategic areas.
With extreme heat causing record-breaking deaths in Arizona, the Heat and Health Resilience Innovation Consortium launches a statewide consortium to develop wearable biosensors, kiosk care, multilingual apps, and AI-driven health risk tools. Co-led by Dr. Amelia Gallitano and Dr. Freya Spielberg, both faculty at the College of Medicine Phoenix, it integrates tech, clinical training, and community partnerships to save lives and lead innovation in climate-responsive health.
The Heat Resilience Initiative will provide support to the newly launched Heat and Health Resilience Innovation Consortium.
The project has four pillars:
1) Education - of healthcare providers and the public, employing AI methodologies;
2) Personalised Technologies – the development of wearable biosensors for high risk individuals to monitor and alert outreach teams when heat-related diseases are worsening;
3) Built Environments - The establishment of movable, energy-independent, Cooling Health Oasis hubs to support community resilience where it is most needed,
4) Health Care Systems – creating algorithms to identify individuals at risk and provide preemptive warnings and information.
