HealthAI Chief Scientist Dr. Peiling Yap Joins Board of APHRC

HealthAI – The Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health, is pleased to announce that Dr. Peiling Yap, Chief Scientist, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Africa’s premier research-to-policy institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

HealthAI’s mission to advance the equitable development and adoption of Responsible AI solutions in health through the collaborative implementation of regulatory mechanisms aligns closely with APHRC’s commitment to strengthening the African research and development ecosystem. Both organizations recognize that sustainable health improvements require robust governance frameworks, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Africa is a region of significant potential for the deployment of responsible AI in health. The continent faces unique health challenges but also demonstrates remarkable capacity for innovation. Countries like Zambia, which recently became the first African nation to join the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network, are positioning themselves at the forefront of responsible AI adoption in healthcare.

​With a background including pioneering work at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Dr. Yap brings extensive experience in global health research and capacity strengthening to this role. As HealthAI’s Chief Scientist, she leads the synthesis of knowledge and development of training curricula for regulators and policymakers to strengthen their capacity to regulate AI in health. She has also established HealthAI’s Community of Practice, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among diverse stakeholders on implementing regulatory mechanisms and global standards for Responsible AI in health.

“I am deeply grateful to join APHRC’s accomplished Board and to contribute to its vision of transforming lives in Africa through research, particularly by advancing responsible, equitable applications of AI in health that can strengthen health systems and benefit communities.” 

Dr. Peiling Yap, Chief Scientist, HealthAI 

This appointment reflects a natural alignment between two organizations committed to evidence-driven approaches that strengthen health systems and advance equitable access to care, and underscores a broader commitment to ensuring that Africa has an active voice in shaping the future of AI governance in health.

About APHRC

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. APHRC is African-founded, African-led, and Africa-based, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO), in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.

The Center’s portfolio comprises over 200 projects in more than 35 countries, involving global, regional, and national stakeholders. APHRC engages with policymakers in the region to influence policy decisions and to tackle development challenges in the continent. APHRC started as a fellowship program and thereafter became autonomous in 2001 and was registered in the USA, and signed a Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Kenya as an African Regional Research Center. In the last two decades, the Center has grown, expanding its Africa-wide mandate and reaching partners globally.​

More info HERE

Cover Image: HealthAI