Regina Barzilay

Regina Barzilay is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focusing on artificial intelligence and natural language processing. She is also a faculty lead at the MIT Jameel Clinic, a prominent research center in AI health sciences. In 2017, Barzilay's contribution to her field was recognized when she was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship. Just three years later, she became the first recipient of the $1 million AAAI Squirrel AI Award for Artificial Intelligence for the Benefit of Humanity.

Barzilay's work extends beyond academia. She is actively involved in practical applications of her research, collaborating with physicians and students to develop deep learning models. These models utilize images, text, and structured data to identify trends that can significantly affect early diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention. In 2020, Barzilay and her team made a significant announcement—their deep learning models had led to the discovery of salicin, the first new antibiotic compound in 30 years.

In 2023, Barzilay was elected to both the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Engineering. This dual recognition is a testament to the breadth and depth of her influence on the fields of health sciences and engineering. Her primary research interests, including natural language processing and the application of deep learning to chemistry and oncology, continue to drive her forward in her pursuit of innovation in artificial intelligence.