AI4HF’s local engagement strategy showcased at a Portuguese national event on Innovation and Sustainability

On May 29th, Miriam Cabrita (SHINE 2Europe) presented AI4HF project’s strategy for local engagement of patients and clinicians at the conference Innovation and Sustainability: The Great Social Challenges .

Miriam Cabrita’s presentation showcased the work of the project’s Local Working Groups (WGs), active in five pilot countries: the Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, Peru, and Tanzania. Coordinated by SHINE 2Europe and the University Medical Center Utrecht, these groups bring together 6–8 patients and 6–8 healthcare professionals at each site. Their collaboration is central to guiding the development of AI tools tailored to heart failure care.

Speaking as part of the panel “Health, Literacy and Artificial Intelligence,” Miriam focused on ethical and inclusive approaches to digital innovation in healthcare. She emphasized the project’s strong commitment to developing AI solutions that are not only technologically robust, but also culturally sensitive and socially equitable. By actively involving patients and clinicians throughout the development process, AI4HF ensures its solutions are grounded in the real-world needs and expectations of end users.

Other contributors to the panel included Carina Dantas (SHINE 2Europe), who presented strategies for public involvement in research (e.g., IHI READI, LIVERATION, EUonQoL) and moderated the session, Maria João Cardoso, who presented the CINDERELLA project, and Anderson Carmo, who showcased the XShare and XiA projects, all sharing insights on how innovation can meet real social and health challenges.

The session underscored the vital role of inclusive stakeholder engagement in building sustainable and trustworthy AI for healthcare.