Collaboration between Temple researchers and U.K.-based Aide Health will bring an AI-powered support platform to patients with type 2 diabetes.

A new partnership between Temple University and U.K.-based digital health company Aide Health aims to transform type 2 diabetes care through the use of artificial intelligence. The new program, My Health Aide, marks Aide Health’s first partnership in the United States and introduces the company’s conversation-based AI platform designed to support patients outside traditional clinical settings. 

Led by Janet Lee, assistant dean for clinical research and director of the Laboratory for Implementation and Dissemination Science at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, alongside a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers, the collaboration will support the development of new care models designed to improve patient outcomes, reduce barriers to care and lower costs. 

Designed with patients in mind 

Aide Health's platform was specifically designed for low-resource and underserved communities, using minimal data and a simple interface to help patients self-manage chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. 

“I was struck by how committed Aide Health is to serving patients in the time between primary care visits through user-friendly, trusted and accessible technology that was built with the patient in mind,” said Lee, emphasizing that Aide Health’s commitment to a user-friendly platform is a core part of its mission.  

“Brian Snyder, one of the co-founders and COO, said, 'if you can use WhatsApp, you can use Aide Health.' We love the simplicity of the platform, and the mission-aligned partnership of the Aide team,” Lee added. 

The rollout will begin across two Temple Health primary care practices for which diabetes prevalence is high. Approximately 20% of Temple Health’s outpatient population is living with diabetes, reflecting a substantial cohort with complex, ongoing needs. While primary care physicians lead management, effective care requires continuous, personalized support, including proactive outreach, education and close monitoring to drive better outcomes over time. 

“Aide Health wanted to ensure that the technology was usable by patients in their 80s and in rural areas with limited cellular coverage,” added Lee. “This really resonated with our team, as our patients in North Philadelphia often face challenges with social determinants of health. Temple patients deserve to have access to innovative, cutting-edge technology that is easy to use.” 

Through short, daily interactions, Aide Health’s platform will help patients adhere to their medications, monitor their condition and access trusted health information on demand. Clinicians, meanwhile, will receive real-time data insights, enabling earlier intervention and more personalized care.

“My Health Aide represents an important opportunity to strengthen access to the support patients need to achieve better outcomes,” said Lee. “By reaching patients earlier with timely, evidence-based interventions, this initiative aims to improve disease management and long-term engagement.” 

The collaboration will evaluate whether AI-driven support can improve medication adherence and glycemic control while also examining how both patients and clinicians engage with the technology in everyday care. 

Creating collaborative collisions 

And it was all sparked by a connection at Temple’s Innovation Nest (iNest). 

Lee was connected with the Aide team through Stephen Nappi, associate vice president of technology commercialization and business development, at Temple’s iNest. The partnership with Aide Health subsequently received funding through Independence Blue Cross’ 2026 Clinical Care Innovation Grant program. 

The partnership between Aide Health, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Temple University Health System grew out of Temple’s iNest, a startup incubator and research commercialization center within the Office of the Vice President for Research. Founded in 2024, iNest serves as a launch pad to transition academic discoveries into real-world products while fostering collaborations among researchers, entrepreneurs and industry partners.

“The iNest serves as a gateway for international partners to connect with the Philadelphia region and the broader U.S. innovation ecosystem while also creating pathways for Temple research to reach global markets,” said Josh Gladden, vice president for research at Temple University. “Temple University is pleased to see the partnership between Aide Health and Temple Health continue to grow, reflecting our approach to advancing research by building partnerships that translate our discoveries into real-world impact.” 

Aide Health’s participation in the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) US Accelerator, a program designed to support the growing role of U.K. health technology companies in addressing global healthcare challenges, served as a catalyst for the collaboration. In 2025, an ABHI delegation visited Temple through a program facilitated by iNest in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. 

Joey Bilyk, director, International Business and Global Strategy, Department of Commerce for the City of Philadelphia, worked with the iNest and the ABHI accelerator to bring the cohort of companies to Philadelphia, including the visit to Temple.   

“As the fourth-ranked life sciences market in the U.S., Philadelphia is an attractive place for international business, talent, and investment in part because of the strength of our universities, hospitals and health systems, and research centers, which together create a dynamic ecosystem that welcomes entrepreneurs from around the world,” said Bilyk. “We always welcome opportunities to work with university partners like Temple to connect global innovators with the resources, expertise and networks they need to grow and succeed in Philadelphia.” 

The collaboration is one example of how the iNest serves as a bridge connecting Temple researchers, industry partners, startups and community organizations and creating what Nappi calls “collaborative collisions,” in this case an alignment between Temple and Aide Health. To date, 16 spinout companies have incubated at the iNest. 

“There has to be an engine that keeps these collaborations moving” said Nappi. “At the iNest, we create opportunities for researchers and companies to come together, share ideas and learn about each other’s work. Those conversations can create the sparks that lead to new partnerships, discoveries and innovations, as it did for Aide Health.” 

Turning innovation into impact 

“My Health Aide is a landmark moment for us as our first U.S. program, built on proven National Health Service outcomes and backed by Independence Blue Cross,” said Snyder. “Partnering with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and Temple Health, a research-driven health system embedded in its community, is exactly where we want to be as we grow in the U.S. I grew up in Philadelphia cheering on the Owls, so working with Temple University feels like coming home to do something that matters.” 

For Nappi, the partnership demonstrates what is possible when researchers, clinicians and industry come together around a shared purpose. 

“Ultimately, the end goal is to actually improve somebody’s health,” said Nappi. “You can bring new solutions by doing this type of work. It’s especially meaningful when you can be part of a process where you can see that alignment happen between parties that have not met before and explore collaborative opportunities like this with the hope that it can improve lives.”