UCL GBSH-led project secures VaxHub funding to address vaccine misinformation in an AI-driven era

A UCL research project has secured funding through the VaxHub Global Platform Funding Call 2026 to investigate how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping vaccine information-seeking and influencing vulnerability to misinformation.

The project, Managing Vaccine Misinformation in UK Communities in an AI-Mediated Information Environment, is led by Dr Yuxi Zhang, Assistant Professor in Health Policy and Systems at the UCL Global Business School for Health (GBSH).

As AI tools become increasingly embedded in everyday health decision-making, the research will examine how individuals and communities use GenAI to access vaccine-related information. It will explore how people interpret AI-generated outputs, particularly when these diverge from professional medical advice, and how this influences trust and decision-making.

Working with communities

In partnership with the London Borough of Newham, the project will focus on community experiences of digital health information. The research will investigate when and why people turn to GenAI, identify gaps in AI literacy, and assess how these factors shape vulnerability to vaccine misinformation.

The study responds to a growing public health challenge. While digital technologies have increased access to information, they have also created new pathways for misinformation. Understanding how emerging technologies influence these dynamics is critical to ensuring that vaccine programmes remain effective, equitable and responsive to community needs.

Impact and policy relevance

The project will generate new interdisciplinary evidence to inform practical strategies for managing vaccine misinformation in rapidly evolving digital environments. The findings will support local authorities, healthcare systems and policymakers to strengthen communication approaches, improve public understanding of AI-generated information, and reduce health and digital inequalities.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

The research brings together expertise from across UCL, spanning health policy, digital health and engineering. Collaborators include:

• Dr Duygu Dikicioglu, Department of Biochemical Engineering
• Dr Amid Ayobi, Department of Computer Science
• Dr Ryan Mellor, Department of Biochemical Engineering

The award builds on earlier support from UCL Grand Challenges (Data-Empowered Societies), the UCL Global Business School for Health Research Assistant Scheme, and the GBSH Technology Innovation and Data-Informed Healthcare Research Cluster.

Next steps

The project will begin in September 2026 and forms part of UCL’s wider work to address the societal and health impacts of emerging digital technologies.