Using an infusion of state funding, the University of Utah is building an AI-assisted computing infrastructure expected to advance population-based medical and policy decisions.

Under a funding bill passed in the 2026 Legislature, state lawmakers and the governor have invested $18.6 million in a new technology system to maximize understanding of data stored in the Utah Population Database (UPDB) and the expertise of researchers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and across campus, speeding health innovations and discoveries for generations to come. The Utah Health AI Vault (UHAIV) will be developed and housed at the university in a partnership between Huntsman Cancer Institute, the database, and the Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC).

Another $15 million will support a new data center and broader AI ecosystem. Together, the state investment adds up to more than $33 million, positioning Utah to lead the nation in AI-enabled health innovation.

The technology initiative will use computing power at two existing data centers—the CHPC in downtown Salt Lake City and a new AI supercomputer or “AI factory” developed in partnership with HPE and NVIDIA at the DataBank Granite Point Campus in Bluffdale.

University leaders say the state’s commitment to advanced computing infrastructure will expand the university’s research capacity and establish a statewide AI foundation—supporting researchers, clinicians, educators and innovators across Utah. At the same time, the technology is expected to accelerate discovery, improve patient outcomes and drive economic growth.

“This is a powerful example of what becomes possible when a state chooses to invest boldly in the health and future of its people,” said Taylor Randall, president. “Utah’s leadership understands that world-class discovery, advanced computing, and responsible data stewardship are essential to improving the lives of patients, families, and communities across our state. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the trust it represents, and we are committed to delivering innovation that serves the public good.”

The funding for UHAIV will update UPDB’s data architecture to make it compatible with innovations in data science and AI. UHAIV will be a university-wide initiative, jointly managed by Bradley Cairns, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute, and James Hotaling, chief innovation officer at University of Utah Health.

Together, the database and institute have enabled breathtaking discoveries over the past decades. For more than 20 years, Huntsman Cancer Institute has managed the UPDB as it powered landmark advances in cancer genetics, including the identification of inherited risk genes for breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2), melanoma (CDKN2A/p16), and colon cancer (APC)—discoveries that have reshaped cancer risk assessment, screening guidelines, and prevention worldwide.

UHAIV will develop a secure, modern platform that maximizes both resources, modernizing the UPDB to enable and develop advanced AI analytics within a secure environment, while maintaining the highest standards of privacy, data security, and ethical oversight. Huntsman Cancer Institute will play a key stewardship role in advancing the initiative, ensuring that the power of AI is applied thoughtfully and responsibly to accelerate discovery.

“Huntsman Cancer Institute is honored to help steward these initiatives,” Cairns said. “We take seriously both the opportunity and the responsibility that come with this investment, and we are committed to ensuring that it translates into meaningful advances for patients and families in Utah and beyond.”

U researchers will gain unprecedented capabilities to accelerate breakthroughs in prevention, early detection, personalized treatments and survivorship across numerous diseases—all while ensuring sensitive and private data remains protected.

“Infrastructure is the engine behind AI-enabled innovation,” said Manish Parashar, the university’s chief AI officer. “We’re grateful the state recognizes these investments as essential to keeping Utah at the forefront of AI. Once these resources are online, researchers and entrepreneurs will be able to move from concept to application at scale much faster.”

Peter Huntsman, chairman and CEO of Huntsman Cancer Foundation, worked closely with legislative leaders during the session to advocate for the initiative. Peter and Brynn Huntsman and the Huntsman Family Foundation also have contributed $10 million to the U to help launch the supercomputer project.

“We are grateful for the state’s leadership and partnership,” he said. “Together, we are building a future where discovery moves faster, care reaches farther, and innovation serves everyone.”