MD Anderson and HealthEx Collaborate on AI-Driven Patient Consent Platform

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has partnered with healthcare startup HealthEx to develop an innovative AI-powered platform aimed at revolutionizing patient consent processes and data management. This strategic collaboration, announced on June 8, 2025, marks a significant step towards empowering patients with greater control over their health data while streamlining research and improving cancer treatment outcomes.

Transforming Patient Consent with AI Technology

The joint initiative between MD Anderson and HealthEx focuses on deploying an artificial intelligence-driven platform that promises to simplify the often complex and labor-intensive process of patient consent. Currently, patients are required to sign lengthy consent forms, which can be difficult to understand and manage for both patients and healthcare staff.

David Jaffray, Ph.D., chief technology and digital officer at MD Anderson, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, "We're co-creating new approaches to simplify the consent process so patients can make more informed decisions about their data than is possible using existing technology."

The AI-powered platform developed by HealthEx aims to automate the manual burden of security and compliance processes needed for health data access. It will enable healthcare organizations to efficiently collect, manage, and enforce patient consent and preferences while automating data policy enforcement through AI co-pilots.

Enhancing Patient Autonomy and Research Capabilities

This innovative approach to consent management is expected to have far-reaching implications for both patient care and medical research. By providing patients with more transparent and accessible control over their health data, the platform aligns with MD Anderson's mission of "Making cancer history."

Priyanka Agarwal, M.D., co-founder and CEO of HealthEx, highlighted the shared vision behind the collaboration: "We've been so aligned on this notion that it's really important that data is being used in a way that has its maximum impact, but to do so in partnership with patients."

The platform's capabilities extend beyond simple consent management, incorporating patient preferences and creating automated workflows to ensure compliance with institutional policies. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the patient experience, boost operational efficiency, increase compliance, and unlock new data licensing opportunities for healthcare organizations.

Financial Backing and Future Prospects

HealthEx, founded in 2022, has garnered significant financial support for its innovative approach to health data management. The company raised $14 million in seed and series A funding last fall, led by General Catalyst with participation from Electric Capital. MD Anderson also holds a financial interest in HealthEx, underscoring the cancer center's commitment to this transformative technology.

As healthcare organizations face increasing complexities in data use and licensing, the MD Anderson-HealthEx collaboration represents a progressive approach to creating a health data ecosystem grounded in transparency and accountability. With the support of AI technology, this partnership aims to set new standards for patient-centric data management in the fight against cancer and beyond.