AR and VR simulation are vital to the next generation of medical study.

Long Island University (LIU), a private university in New York with campuses in Long Island and Brooklyn, has extended its partnership with Dassault Systèmes to focus on health care innovation and technology applications in the life sciences.

Health care is entering a new revolution, with big data, machine learning and the Internet of Things (IoT) expected to transform how practitioners and patients experience the medical system. Dassault Systèmes aims to help LIU with this next generation of medical studies.

The partnership will support research in areas such as precision medicine, digital health technology and therapeutic development. The goal is to provide students with a unique learning opportunity to train and research in cutting-edge areas of health care technology.

“At Dassault Systèmes, we have the profound belief that the virtual world extends and improves the real world, helping to address today’s social and environmental challenges,” said Rama Kondru, Ph.D. co-CEO of Medidata, a part of Dassault Systèmes. “This strategic initiative with LIU brings enormous opportunities since it is helping to prepare the next generation of life science experts to innovate in tomorrow’s more sustainable economy, transform healthcare and solve some of the biggest medical challenges in areas such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Image courtesy of Long Island University.

In October 2021, Dassault created the 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centers of Excellence program to provide students, professionals, businesses and more with a network of facilities that utilize the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to support the digital transformation of industries. Health care is just one of the focus areas of the Edu Centers, as Dassault hopes to support innovation across disciplines.

LIU is only the second Edu Center designated in the U.S., following Purdue University, which became the first Edu Center in 2020. Both institutions join a list of centers in France, Mexico, Germany, India and elsewhere, with each location focusing on a different industry sector.

“Earning the distinction of being named a 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence is a testament to Long Island University’s standing as a preeminent academic institution,” said LIU Board of Trustees Chair Eric Krasnoff. “We are proud to partner with Dassault Systèmes to create an ecosystem where students, faculty and industry partners can collaborate on real-world, impactful learning.”

Since 2019, LIU has partnered with Dassault Systèmes to provide hands-on experience to students in AI, 3D design and digital technologies. From its inception, the partnership looked beyond applications in traditional engineering to collaborate on research in the life sciences.

In 2021, LIU opened a simulation laboratory that uses augmented and virtual reality software from Dassault for teaching, research and training. The laboratory is used across disciplines at the university, including cybersecurity, AI, robotics and drug discovery and development.

“The LIU-Dassault Systèmes research partnership is centered on solving real-world problems through an integrated approach to education while simultaneously developing the future workforce for precision medicine, healthcare and pharmacy,” said Randy Burd, senior vice president for academic affairs at LIU. “We look forward to using Dassault Systèmes’ incredible technology to expand and enhance life sciences, liberal arts, humanities and performing arts degree programs throughout the University.”

Collectively, the extended partnership stands to support both students and the LIU community at large in both education and research efforts. With the goal of ushering in the next era of health care, it will be interesting to witness innovation arising from the partnership over the next few years.