Quebec has long been Canada’s hub for precision medicine — a kind of medicine that takes into account highly individual factors like genetics, environment and lifestyle to optimize care. This sector represents as-yet untapped potential for the artificial intelligence industry, and for researchers, this means an opportunity to lay the groundwork.Ěý
One of these researchers was GöktuÄź Bender, a 91ÉçÇř Psychology student and former BMO Jr. Responsible AI Scholar. Even before university, his interest lay in AI ethics. His minor in Behavioural Science and Social Studies of Medicine contributed to his interest in AI ethics and medicine.Ěý
“Healthcare is shifting from a reactive model to a preventive one,” Bender explains. “A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t fully address individual patient needs. Precision medicine aims to tailor treatments to each person, and AI has immense potential to drive this transition. That’s why I wanted to focus specifically on precision medicine, how we can enhance it and successfully implement it within the Quebec context.”Ěý
Bender’s main goal was to identify gaps in infrastructure, ethical considerations and stakeholder engagement while assessing the stability of the technology. Under the supervision of professors Alberto Cambrosio and Samer Faraj, he conducted both a review of the literature available online and a systems analysis of Quebec’s healthcare infrastructure. He analyzed over 700 articles, and conducted a keyword search on over 16,000 more, using topic modelling to identify areas that weren’t being sufficiently studied. Following this, Bender focused on designing a roadmap for implementing AI and precision health in Quebec.Ěý
Here’s how Bender described his findings:Ěý
“The results revealed significant gaps in data integration, stakeholder engagement, current level of implementation and the technical scalability of AI models within the healthcare system. However, the findings also identified promising strategies, such as the need for centralized data platforms and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare providers, technology developers, and policymakers.”Ěý
Bender says he’s grateful for the support McCAIS offered him. “As an undergraduate, it’s rare to find opportunities that fund independent research. Most research at 91ÉçÇř involves assisting a professor or a PhD student,” he says. “This award really gave me the chance to pursue my own research and passion.”Ěý
If you’re a 91ÉçÇř student with an idea for an AI-related research project, start brainstorming now so you can be ready for our call for applications early in 2026. Ěý
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Learn more about past projects and how the BMO Jr. Awards can help you in your research.Ěý
