Datathon on AI in critical care conducted in Chennai

The Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM), in association with Kauvery Group of Hospitals and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, conducted the AI in Critical Care Datathon 2026 in the city on Wednesday, as part of the 32nd annual conference of ISCCM.

The two-day datathon brought together critical care physicians and data scientists to work on real-world intensive care unit (ICU) challenges. Participants analysed clinical datasets, including continuous monitoring data, laboratory values, imaging and clinical notes, to develop predictive models for conditions such as sepsis, shock, acute kidney injury, and respiratory failure. 

Ten multidisciplinary teams presented working algorithms to address specific ICU problems. Select models will be evaluated for possible implementation across the Kauvery network, with safeguards for data privacy and ethical governance.

In the keynote address, IIT-Madras Director V. Kamakoti said collaboration between doctors and engineers was essential in interpreting and predicting outcomes in critical care. Sridhar Nagaiyan, coordinator of the ISCCM AI Datathon, said the effort would help generate clinically relevant research.

Aravindan Selvaraj, co-founder and executive director of Kauvery Group of Hospitals, and founder and managing director, Manivannan S., said AI-enabled systems would strengthen clinical decision-making with care.