The Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (DBIDS) is spotlighting its expanded leadership team, featuring four vice chairs whose expertise strengthens the department’s mission.
“As we kick off a new year and the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (DBIDS) continues to grow, we are adding much-needed leadership in four areas across our core missions: Bioinformatics, Clinical Research Informatics, Informatics Research, and Education,” said James Cimino, M.D., distinguished professor and chair. “Having a vice chair for each will allow us to coordinate intradepartmental collaboration among faculty with complementary interests, as well as external collaborations with other departments in need of our research, education, and service expertise.”
Jin Chen, Ph.D.
Vice Chair of Education
Chen is a professor in the Division of Nephrology, a position he has held since September 2023. His work focuses on developing AI-driven solutions for medical and biological informatics, with a particular emphasis on integrating radiologic
Jin Chen, Ph.D.imaging, genomic data, and clinical documentation to enhance predictive accuracy and mitigate bias in cancer care. He collaborates with partners across the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network and works closely with multidisciplinary teams to advance patient-centered AI tools.
“As Vice Chair of Education in DBIDS, I help coordinate and strengthen the department’s educational mission by supporting curriculum development, training programs, and mentorship in biomedical informatics and data science,” Chen said. “The role focuses on preparing trainees for translational, data-driven research and aligning educational activities with the department’s scientific priorities.”
“It is both an honor and a responsibility to serve in a leadership role within DBIDS. It allows me to contribute to building a collaborative, rigorous, and inclusive training environment and to help shape the next generation of leaders in biomedical data science.”
Zechen Chong, Ph.D.
Vice Chair of Bioinformatics Research
Chong, who joined the department in 2017, is an associate professor who leads a computational research group
Zechen Chong, Ph.D. specializing in advanced sequencing technologies. His research uses platforms such as PacBio, Nanopore, and 10X Genomics to investigate genomic rearrangements, next-generation sequencing data, and disease genomics.
Chong is responsible for helping faculty stay aware of research funding, particularly related to translational research that involve both bioinformatics and clinical informatics faculty. He also serves as a point of contact for outside inquiries about bioinformatics collaborations. Finally, he advises the chair on strategies to increase bioinformatics research support.
“Serving as Vice Chair for Bioinformatics Research means championing innovative, rigorous research that bridges computation and biology,” said Chong. “I see this role as fostering collaboration across disciplines, supporting faculty and trainees, and enabling bioinformatics discoveries that advance biomedical science and improve human health.”
Lana Garmire, Ph.D.
Vice Chair of Research
Garmire is a professor in the department, joining UAB from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her research focuses on developing integrative machine-learning methods to analyze multi-omics and single-cell datasets, supporting discoveries in complex biological processes and disease mechanisms. She has led interdisciplinary
Lana Garmire, Ph.D. collaborations aimed at advancing translational data science.
“My role as Vice Chair of Research is to identify and promote emerging areas in biomedical informatics and data science to position the department at the forefront of innovation,” said Garmire. “I will facilitate interdisciplinary research collaborations within and beyond the institution and oversee internal peer review processes for major grant applications.” Garmire adds that she will support the department chair on all research-related matters.
“This leadership position blends my passion for research and serving people together perfectly. It allows me to guide the department’s research strategy, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and translate innovative computational and analytical methods into real-world impact, as well as supporting the growth of the next generation of scientists.”
For Garmire, her leadership role is about driving excellence, innovation, and impactful contributions to the field of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science.
Abu Saleh Mohammad Mosa, Ph.D., FAMIA
Vice Chair of Clinical Research Informatics
Mosa is an associate professor in the department and joined UAB in 2025 from the University of Missouri. His expertise includes artificial intelligence in medicine, predictive modeling, large language models, and the development of high-performance computing systems for clinical research.
Abu Saleh Mohammad Mosa, Ph.D., FAMIA
“As Vice Chair of Clinical Research Informatics, I focus on making it easier for investigators to turn data into meaningful discoveries that improve health,” said Mosa. “Clinical research informatics is about building the methods, tools, and workflows that support retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials, whether that’s reusing existing data or collecting new data in a rigorous way, and about leveraging the electronic health record (EHR) and other clinical information systems to facilitate secure, efficient research. Increasingly, this includes helping teams use advanced analytics and artificial intelligence responsibly, so that algorithms are transparent, reproducible, and aligned with clinical and translational priorities.”
“In our department, which sits at the intersection of data science, genomics, precision medicine, and learning health systems, I help align our technical capabilities, services, and partnerships with the needs of clinical and translational researchers across UAB.”
Mosa works with faculty and staff to shape strategy, prioritize informatics infrastructure and platform investments, and develop training and mentorship that prepare the next generation of clinical research informatics and AI leaders. He also supports clinical informatics research, including the development and evaluation of tools and decision-support applications that are integrated into the EHR and clinical workflows.
“Holding a leadership role in DBIDS is both a privilege and a responsibility,” Mosa explained. “Informatics is often described as the connective tissue that weaves together diverse expertise across UAB, and I see my role as helping to strengthen that connective tissue so that ideas, data, and people can come together more effectively.”
Mosa helps teams use data science and artificial intelligence in a thoughtful, responsible way so that advanced analytics and EHR-integrated decision-support tools are grounded in real clinical and research needs.
“Personally, it is deeply meaningful to contribute to a department that is still relatively young but already playing an important role in shaping the future of biomedical informatics, AI-enabled discovery, and data-driven care at UAB,” Mosa said.