Exploring AI and healthcare research integrity: University of Surrey secures £260,000 UKRI grant

A new study on how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is impacting the education and work of healthcare researchers has received a £260,000 boost from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), as part of a £4 million research funding programme investigating how AI is impacting science.

Led by the University of Surrey, the study will be exploring how healthcare researchers at all levels are using AI, highlighting the benefits and potential risks they may face.

AI has become a ubiquitous tool that can provide quick answers in areas where specialist expertise is usually required. However, Dr Danny Maupin, lead investigator of the study and Research Fellow at the University of Surrey, warns:

AI in healthcare research opens up significant risks. Relying on GenAI in areas outside one’s area of expertise could lead to serious errors, especially in complex health research where collaboration across specialties has been key Dr Danny Maupin, Research Fellow

The study will test research students’ reliance on AI by tasking them to analyse data that deliberately includes hidden errors. By observing whether they can spot these mistakes, the study aims to determine whether GenAI ultimately supports or weakens research integrity.

Dr Maupin continues:

AI has the potential to make research more efficient, but in a complex research area such as healthcare, we need to also consider how it may lead to mistakes if we rely too heavily on it without understanding specialist subject matters. This research will look to inform universities and shape future education and training on how healthcare researchers can use AI responsibly, especially in areas where they lack specialist knowledge Dr Danny Maupin, Research Fellow

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