Breyer Capital Catalyzes the Future of AI-Driven Medicine at Harvard Medical School
Landmark funding supports premier PhD track training next generation of healthcare AI leaders
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant prospect in medicine—it is reshaping patient care, biomedical discovery, and healthcare efficiency. Leading medical institutions must prepare future leaders to harness AI in tackling the most pressing challenges in biomedicine. Harvard Medical School’s Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) is rising to this challenge with the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) PhD track—a program designed to cultivate physician-scientists and computational biologists who will redefine AI-driven healthcare.
Breyer Capital, a global leader in venture capital, has made a transformative commitment to this program, reinforcing its role as a top investor in healthcare AI. With a distinguished track record of backing computational biomedical companies at their earliest stages, Breyer Capital continues to shape medicine's future by supporting exceptional talent and cutting-edge research. This investment will provide comprehensive training for students in the AIM PhD track over the next several years.
A Transformative Vision for AI in Medicine
Harvard Medical School’s AIM PhD track is designed to equip students with the interdisciplinary expertise necessary to harness AI’s potential in biomedicine. The program brings together leading AI researchers, including Isaac “Zak” Kohane, Arjun Manrai, Chirag Patel, Marinka Zitnik, Maha Farhat, Pranav Rajpurkar, Kun-Hsing Yu, and Tianxi Cai. These experts will guide students in developing AI-driven solutions across multiple modalities such as generative language models, graph neural networks, and computer vision.
In addition to rigorous coursework, students will engage in clinical rotations at Harvard-affiliated hospitals, gaining a deep understanding of the real-world applications of AI in healthcare. The program’s innovative co-mentorship model further enhances translational impact, ensuring that students work alongside both methodological mentors and hospital-based clinical scientists to drive AI-powered advancements in medicine.
Jim Breyer on the Future of AI in Medicine
Jim Breyer, Founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, shares his perspective on the importance of this initiative:
The convergence of artificial intelligence and medicine represents one of the most profound frontiers in human health and technology. Harvard Medical School’s AI in Medicine PhD program is pioneering the training of physician-scientists and computational biologists who will not only push the boundaries of discovery but also redefine how we diagnose, treat, and prevent disease—while designing a healthcare system that delivers exceptional care with greater efficiency. I am proud to support this initiative, knowing that its graduates will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of medicine.
Jim Breyer
Founder and CEO, Breyer Capital
At Harvard Medical School, we are committed to leading the charge in AI-driven biomedical innovation. The support from Breyer Capital—one of the smartest and most forward-thinking investors in this space—strengthens our ability to attract top talent and drive transformative breakthroughs. With this partnership, we are building a program that will set the standard for AI training in medicine and produce exceptional leaders in healthcare AI.
Dr. Isaac “Zak” Kohane
Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School
