Five Questions for Joanne Chun
Joanne Chun, PharmD ’93, PhD ’96, leads a new master’s degree program – the first of its kind in the nation – focused on AI’s transformation of drug discovery and development. The inaugural cohort in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development (AICD3) started in fall 2024.
What makes AICD3 so vital?
The way we approach medicine, health care, and research is really changing. Traditionally, scientific research started with a hypothesis. Now, the data can tell us where to start. I tell my students, ‘The job you might be doing in 10 years might not exist yet.’
How will AI-based research benefit patients?
Humans can see three-dimensional things, but what about 500 dimensions? AI can recognize patterns that we could never see on our own. In areas like precision health, this means we can analyze vast datasets and fine-tune predictions to deliver more personalized treatments. It’s a game-changer for patients.
What do your students learn?
They study matters like machine learning, deep learning, pharmacokinetics, real-world data analysis, omics, and AI ethics. Then, they apply those skills in capstone projects with industry partners or within UCSF labs. Some will be developing a chatbot that helps access and interpret FDA drug labels. Others will analyze breast cancer patient data to uncover how race, prior treatments, or socio-economic factors influence survival. Still others will train AI models to improve drug discovery.
What sort of students should attend this program?
We’re looking for curious, motivated individuals who want to make a difference in drug discovery and development and who are excited about the potential of AI and machine learning. Our goal is to develop leaders who can think across disciplines and translate that knowledge into real-world impact.
How did you become such a leader?
I love learning and solving puzzles. To me, science is one big puzzle that pulls together ideas from different fields. With my background in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy, and computer science, I realized just how powerful it is to be able to think across disciplines. That’s why I’m so proud to be part of this program – we’re building something I wish had existed when I was in training.
