​About Us

Our Vision

To establish Aga Khan University as the premier data provider within Low Middle Income Country settings.

Our Mission

Our mission is to make it easier for more people at the Aga Khan University to use powerful analytics daily, shorten the path from data to insight, and inspire bold new discoveries that drive progress. ​​​​


Our Objectives​​

  • Build out data repositories with internal and external data to be leveraged for research
  • Apply AI/ML methodologies within research projects to identify innovative paths of care.​
  • Transform data driven decision making within key academic functions.​
Mission infographic.png

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Data Innovation Office? 

AKU has invested in the creation of an Office of the Chief Data Innovation Officer (CDIO) that is focused on supporting research projects that employ data intensive methodologies. The CDIO deploys all projects on a modern data stack utilizing cloud technologies and open-source algorithms. A key mandate for the CDIO office is to leverage data in innovative ways to address population health challenges in East Africa thereby leapfrogging over many traditional Western methodologies. 

What does the Data Innovation Office do? 

CDIO Office – What We Do & Some Key Highlights 

  • AI Research Hub: Supporting data-intensive research projects for AKU in Kenya 
  • Cutting-Edge Technology: Deploying all projects on a modern data stack; we are Kenya’s first academic research project leveraging cloud and open-source technologies 
  • Impactful Partnerships: One of our key projects is a AKU’s largest NIH grant focused on maternal child health and mental health, recognized by NIH leadership as the most advanced project within DS-Africa for data science and AI 
  • Innovative Solutions: Established the largest electronic medical record data research repository in a LMIC setting, endorsed by Google and Microsoft 
  • Repository includes 2.9M unique patient records from primary and secondary care facilities across Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu over 10+ years 
  • Actively exploring various generative AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs like ChatGPT​​), for research advancements.