JOHN ABBOTT COLLEGE
John Abbott College Student Awarded Obvia Grant to Drive AI Research Forward

John Abbott College is thrilled to share that Sara Sanakhan, student in the Science program, was recently awarded the Bourses de collège from Obvia. Sara will be exploring the research project When AI Saves Lives: Emerging Uses of Generative AI in Medical Emergency Situations. She will be supervised by faculty member Simon Daoust, Biology, John Abbott College.

Obvia, the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies, is a research community, comprised of nineteen post-secondary institutions in Québec and over 240 researchers. Obvia seeks to identify "the societal challenges of artificial intelligence and digital technologies and contributes to solutions that place living beings and the biosphere at the centre of their development and use."

This project explores the use of generative artificial intelligence, particularly ChatGPT, by non-clinicians in medical emergencies. Through a review of the literature, analysis of comments on social media (Reddit, TikTok, X), and a comparative analysis of certain AI models (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.), the project aims to assess the applicability, consistency, accuracy, and ethical implications of AI-generated responses in critical medical situations. Interviews with healthcare professionals will enrich the analysis. The project also addresses issues of digital governance, misinformation, informed consent, and data protection.

"Being awarded this grant by Obvia means much more to me than recognition, it represents the beginning of a journey I've dreamed of for years. Research has always fascinated me because it gives us the chance to question, discover, and make a difference. Through this project, I hope to grow as a researcher and explore how technology and ethics can come together to improve healthcare. Most of all, I want to contribute something meaningful, however small, to the world of scientific understanding. I also hope to contribute as much as possible to the advancement of healthcare and to bring meaningful, positive change to people's lives."

- Sara Sanakhan, Obvia grant recipient, current John Abbott College Science student

Obvia stated in a press release, "as part of its 2025-2026 Emerging Scholars Support Program, Obvia is proud to announce the awarding of 13 new research scholarships to support the success of promising young researchers."

This project's grant proposal was facilitated through the Research and Innovation Office at the College.