Research
- Current Projects
- Research Library
Current Projects
The Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity (CHC) leads pioneering research to protect patient care from the growing threat of cyberattacks. Our work spans multiple focus areas, including ransomware resilience, evidence-based cybersecurity, and cyber disaster preparedness, ensuring healthcare delivery organizations (HDOs) can anticipate, withstand, and recover from cyber threats without compromising patient safety.
Our research is structured into three key domains:
Healthcare Ransomware Resiliency and Response Program (HR3P)
HR3P is a nationwide initiative aimed at minimizing the impact of ransomware attacks on hospitals and healthcare systems. This program develops evidence-based interventions to mitigate disruptions in critical healthcare environments.
- Creating response frameworks and decision-making tools to help hospital leadership and emergency teams rapidly coordinate during ransomware events.
- Developing technology to rapidly restore IT systems and network functionality with minimal downtime, ensuring continuity of hospital operations.
- Developing a national healthcare digital infrastructure monitoring system to detect attacks sooner and respond.
Evidence-Based Cybersecurity
CHC applies scientific rigor to cybersecurity challenges, ensuring that interventions are data-driven, validated, and effective in real-world clinical settings.
- Conducting research on the impact of cyberattacks on hospital operations, safe patient care, and clinical outcomes.
- Developing cybersecurity training and simulation programs for clinicians, bridging the gap between IT security and medical practice.
- Investigating medical device vulnerabilities, ensuring that hospital networks remain secure and resilient against emerging threats.
Cyber Disaster Preparedness
Cyberattacks on healthcare systems create crises that extend far beyond IT disruptions—they impact emergency response, medical supply chains, and patient care delivery. CHC’s research ensures healthcare institutions are prepared for large-scale cyber disasters.
- Studying the real-world effects of cyber incidents on hospital emergency departments and trauma centers.
- Designing contingency protocols for hospitals, including alternative communication networks, system redundancy models, and disaster recovery workflows.
- Partnering with government agencies, healthcare providers, and security experts to develop scalable emergency response strategies that safeguard critical access hospitals.
Building a Resilient Future
Through these research efforts, CHC is redefining how healthcare systems prepare for and respond to cyber threats. Our work influences national policy, enhances hospital preparedness, and ensures the continuity of critical medical services, protecting patients, providers, and communities from the devastating impact of cyberattacks.