News

On 1 July 2026, HINT.GENT hosted HINT.CONNECT 2026 at the UZ Gent campus. The event brought together members of the HINT.GENT community for updates on upcoming initiatives, including the HINT.GENT Science Conference, the Innovator Summit and the future postgraduate programme on digital literacy and AI in healthcare. The programme also featured talks by Dr. Isabelle Dehaene on clinical prediction models and AI, and Prof. Tom Braekeleirs on his book Acceptable AI, followed by a networking reception.

On 23 April, HINT.GENT hosted a debate evening on the impact of AI on science and healthcare. The discussion moved beyond tools and technology, addressing better science, peer review, education, responsibility, and whether more output actually leads to better care.

This report summarizes the key insights from the HINT.GENT Summit, where experts examined the evolving role of AI in healthcare from ethical, legal, economic, technical and clinical perspectives. It highlights both the promising clinical applications demonstrated and the critical challenges that must be addressed for safe, transparent and responsible AI adoption.

On October 23 and 24, the first HINT.GENT Innovation Sprint took place, where teams developed innovative AI solutions for healthcare. Participants were inspired by experts and worked using the Design Thinking Method. The team Oncore won the award for the most innovative and feasible idea.

On July 3rd, HINT.GENT brought together clinicians, researchers, educators, and ethicists for a powerful day of dialogue on AI in healthcare at the HINT.Connect event. From keynote reflections on empathy and technology to interactive sessions and a look at what's next for the HINT.GENT network, the event sparked meaningful exchange and future plans.

On June 20, 2025, HINT.Gent organized an engaging session at the Belgian Pavilion of the World Expo in Osaka, titled "Dare to Think about Health Tech Innovation." With contributions from Prof. Tom Goffin, Prof. Heidi Mertes, Dr. Joke Verbeke, and Prof. Niki Rashidian, the session explored how ethics, policy, and innovation intersect in the future of healthcare technology. Key topics included the balance between human-centered care and technological advancement, and how Flanders can position itself internationally in this evolving field.

On June 19th, HINT.GENT visited Osaka University to explore the pioneering Hospital AI project and the AIDE Project, led by Prof. Beverly Anne Yamamoto. The AIDE project is a UK–Japan initiative focusing on inclusive, ethically grounded AI in healthcare through stakeholder engagement and public involvement. The visit offered valuable insights into governance frameworks, patient perspectives, and interdisciplinary collaboration—lessons that will inform HINT.GENT’s ongoing efforts to responsibly integrate AI into Flemish healthcare systems. The exchange emphasized the importance of transparency, trust, and societal alignment in AI innovation.

The HINT.GENT Pulse Session presented a 3D renal perfusion model (prof. dr. Renaat Coopman) and the PODRACING trial (prof. dr. Charles Van Praet), advancing robot-assisted kidney surgery. These tools enable precise arterial clamping and personalized planning, improving outcomes. Developed at UGent, they raise key questions around data privacy, AI regulation, and clinical integration in multicentric trials which were discussed from a legal point of view with prof. Griet Verhenneman.

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On February 27th, 2025, healthcare professionals attended the first pulse session of HINT.GENT, led by Dr. François Remy and Prof. Dr. Steven Callens, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs) in healthcare. Dr. Remy introduced LLM principles and applications, while Prof. Dr. Callens demonstrated their practical uses.