IGPA interviews Gerke on Illinois’s ban on AI therapists

Recent legislation made Illinois the first state to enact a ban on artificial intelligence serving as mental help therapists without oversight from a licensed clinician. To add context to this development, the Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs spoke to Professor Sara Gerke, an expert in the ethical and legal challenges of artificial intelligence […]

AI in Cancer Surgery and Care Conference features wide range of expertise and fosters interdisciplinary dialogue

In partnership with the Cancer Center at Illinois, the University of Illinois College of Law hosted the AI in Cancer Surgery and Care Conference on September 4th and 5th, 2025. Organized by Sara Gerke, Associate Professor of Law & Richard W. & Marie L. Corman Scholar at the University of Illinois, the conference brought together […]

New paper from Gerke: FDA needs to develop labeling standards for AI-powered medical devices

The regulatory framework for artificial intelligence-based medical devices needs to be improved to ensure transparency and protect patients’ health, says Sara Gerke, the Richard W. & Marie L. Corman Scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and expert in the ethical and legal challenges of artificial intelligence for health care. Gerke argues that the Food […]

Gerke publishes article on 23andMe in BMJ

One of the most concerning aspects of genetic testing company 23andMe filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Professor Sara Gerke writes in a new article published in BMJ, is the range of information the company holds. Along with her co-authors, Gerke explores the issues presented by the genetic information, such as from saliva samples, self-reported health and […]

Gerke co-authors paper on pulse oximeters in JAMA

Pulse oximeters are known to be less accurate for patients with darker skin, but manufacturers have not changed their design or included a warning label disclosing this information. A recent settlement and guidance from the FDA could prompt changes in the market, however. In a new paper published in JAMA, Professor Sara Gerke and her […]

Federal privacy laws protecting consumer data are necessary, Gerke says

The bankruptcy of the genetic testing company 23andMe has raised a number of issues, but one specifically prudent issue is the lack of legislation preventing the sale of customers’ data due to financial exigencies. Speaking with the Illinois News Bureau, Professor Sara Gerke explained why this issue is significant. “Companies like 23andMe are sitting on […]

Gerke organizes Life Sciences AI Summit

Professor Sara Gerke was co-organizer of the Life Sciences AI Summit – Europe, which took place March 25–26, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. The conference covered the ways in which artificial intelligence in the life sciences is affecting topics such as drug discovery and development as well as improving patient outcomes. Another important aspect of the […]

Gerke publishes co-authored article in New England Journal of Medicine

If 23andMe goes bankrupt, what happens to their millions of customers’ personal and genetic data? Sara Gerke, Melissa B. Jacoby, and I. Glenn Cohen explore this issue in a new article published on March 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine, titled “Bankruptcy, Genetic Information, and Privacy — Selling Personal Information.” The data are […]

Illinois LawCast: Get to know Bill Watson and Sara Gerke

In this episode, our newest faculty members, Bill Watson and Sara Gerke, sit down to discuss their path to Illinois Law, their specialties, and how they are enjoying their time at the College of Law thus far. Listen online.Listen on Apple Podcasts.Listen on Spotify Podcasts.Listen on Amazon Music.Listen on Pandora. If you have comments or […]

SSRN features Q&A with Gerke

Professor Sara Gerke was recently featured on the SSRN blog, discussing her extensive research. As part of their “Meet the Author” series, Gerke participated in a question and answer session covering her research on the ethical and legal challenges of artificial intelligence and big data for health care and health law in the United States […]

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