Topic: Leveraging Generative AI to Optimize Health Care Delivery

The application deadline is November 10, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Overview

The Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) and Penn Medicine announce the 5th Annual Request for Proposals for the LDI–Penn Medicine Research Laboratory. This strategic partnership aims to advance LDI’s mission of generating generalizable health care knowledge and to produce actionable evidence that guide Penn Medicine’s operational decisions. Funded projects are reviewed with Penn Medicine leadership, and promising work may receive additional support for systemwide implementation.

This year, the Research Lab solicits proposals that improve the effectiveness, efficiency, safety and experience of care delivery at Penn Medicine, with a special focus on how generative artificial intelligence (AI) can optimize health care delivery.

Nationally, health systems are grappling with how to best use generative AI to improve health care delivery, including efficiency, effectiveness, and patient and provider experiences while maintaining quality, safety, and equity. LDI and Penn Medicine are committed to advancing high-value care using novel AI-supported technology and are especially interested in projects that:

• Enhance the clinician (defined broadly) and/or patient experience and engagement
• Examine how to optimize human-computer interaction and teaming to produce optimal outcomes
• Address health system challenges including, but not limited to, access to care, length of stay, readmissions, documentation burden, surgical efficiency, and population health
• Preserve and advance health care quality, safety, and equity

For this funding cycle, proposals focusing on automation and agenic AI will be prioritized. We will also consider projects that generate actionable findings to improve quality health care delivery and clinician experience, including those aligned with Penn Medicine’s Strategic Plan “Serving a Changing World” and LDI’s core focus areas.

Proposal Details

We invite LDI Senior Fellows to propose one-year collaborative projects with Penn Medicine to evaluate services, expand or test programs, or develop new interventions.

Projects should:

• Address Penn Medicine priorities and leverage Penn Medicine data
• Use methods such as observational analyses, pilot interventions, or implementation science
• Demonstrate how results could improve delivery across equity, efficiency, cost, quality, access, care team wellbeing, or health outcomes
• Identify metrics for success and have clear line of sight to scalability if successful (e.g., clinical home including owner and/or champion and preliminary plan for financial sustainability).
• Consider health equity as a specific outcome, with clear measures

Proposals must work within the fast pace of health system decision-making and AI development and include a letter of support from an operational partner detailing their role, timeline, metrics for success and commitment to scaling if successful. Funded projects will begin January 2026 and end by January 2027, in time to inform FY2028 budget planning. Final reports are due by January 1, 2027. 

The LDI–Penn Medicine Research Lab’s steering committee, LDI, and Penn Medicine will provide guidance, help investigators connect with experts and partners, and support access to Penn Medicine’s de-identified electronic health record data through an LDI analyst. LDI will also support dissemination of findings.

Investigators unsure about feasibility or in need of an operational partner should contact Dr. Anna Morgan, Director of the LDI–Penn Medicine Research Lab, by October 15, 2025. For general questions, contact Penn LDI.

Eligibility

Proposals must be led by an LDI Senior Fellow. Penn faculty, Penn Medicine staff, and LDI Associate Fellows may serve as co-investigators.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by the LDI-Penn Medicine Research Laboratory Joint Steering Committee. Up to two proposals will be funded. Criteria include:

• Impact: Significance of the problem; potential to improve care quality, value, and patient/provider experience
• Investigators & Team: Qualifications of PI and team; strength of operational partnership
• Methods: Rigor and appropriateness of the plan
• Theme: Priority given to projects leveraging AI to improve efficiency and value
• Timeline & Feasibility: Must be achievable in one year and provide insights for Penn Medicine FY2028 planning needs
• Future Potential: Likelihood of influencing new initiatives, system changes, or scalable models, with attention to financial sustainability

Other Requirements

• Projects begin January 2026
• IRB approval or exemption required before funding
• Awardees must submit:
  • Quarterly check-ins with Lab Director demonstrating achievement of quarterly milestones
  • Interim Report (July 1, 2026)
  • Final Report (January 1, 2027) with presentation to the Joint Steering Committee and Penn Medicine executives
• Investigators must acknowledge LDI and Penn Medicine in all products and may be asked to present findings or review future proposals

How to Apply

LDI Senior Fellows should complete the online application, which includes:

• Abstract (≤250 words)
• Project Description (≤3 pages, single-spaced, 11pt font, 0.5-inch margins), including:
  • Aims & Significance (1 page)
  • Scalability including key metrics for success (0.5 page)
  • Research Plan & Methods (1.5 pages: data sources, measurement, analysis plan)
• Budget (≤$65,000, itemized with justification; may include LDI analyst support, staff salaries, consultants, supplies; excludes travel, equipment, indirect costs). Faculty salaries are not included.
  • To include an LDI analyst with experience pulling data from Penn Medicine’s data store and warehouse, please contact Jibby Kurichi for details about costs.
• Timeline & Milestones quantifiable 1-year timeline; include quarterly milestones for accountability and required quarterly check-ins and alternative strategies for achieving milestones
• PI Biosketch following NIH format, with publications and support, limited to 2 pages
• Other Pending/Funded Proposals for overlap check
• Co-Investigator Biosketches ≤2 pages each
• Operational Partner Letter of Support uploaded in appendix; must confirm project’s value, feasibility, and long-term potential
• Appendices limited to essential supporting materials, e.g., survey forms, admin letters.