The explosion of patient-related data makeS essential the AI/ML. Data such as are those realted from genomics, electronic health records, wearables and other Real World Data sources. AI/ML explain data and derive evidence-based insights. Last but not least, AI/ML answer some of healthcare’s most challenging questions.
The workshop
The workshop held and co-organized by the University of Twente and Innovation Sprint. We saw artificial intelligence (AI) shifting from a novelty to necessity. This shift took place in many applications throughout the day. Audience learned how AI becomes a transformational force in the field of healthcare and the Life sciences.
We kicked off with welcoming notes by Prof. Hermie Hermens (University of Twente) & Dr. Sofoklis Kyriazakos (CEO of Innovation Sprint). After that, it followed an inspiring keynote from Christina Kyriakopoulou from the Digital Research Department of the European Commission, (DG-RTD). That keynote stressed the focus of the EC on this domain and the available relevant calls for innovation.AI-driven Insights
Next up was a topic on Modeling a treatment protocol with little clinical data.
Rom Langerak (University of Twente) presented us how it is possible to model a universal patient and treatment protocol.
Startup talks
Latter, we had two startup talks. The first one was the BowheadHealth.com where we heard Francisco Diaz-Mitoma jr. FDM presented their great solution for personalized wellness collecting Real world data from patients and empowering them to be the owners of their data using a blockchain ledger.
The second one was Healthentia.com from Sofoklis Kyriazakos and Alfredo Cesario & Aristodemos Pnevmatikakis (Innovation Sprint). They spoke about Defining Biomarkers & Behavioral Phenotypes and whether they can predict outcomes.
Medical device regulation gave a big shock the last few years in the software companies as it can be considered a Medical Device. We can never have enough analysis on the parameters that include or exclude you from this requirement for commercialization. This is where and why Kyun Thibaut (COVARTIM) gave us an enlightening talk on MDR impact on Software as Medical Devices. He highlighted the small letters and offered applied examples.
Break
After, it followed a quick break for lunch at the amazing lounge area of the Techmed department. It was ideal so as to get some energy.
Sessions
Prof. Vincenzo Valentini (Policlinico Gemelli / UCSC) presented the following session. Session’s topic was on the use of AI. More specificly, Pr. VV presented the use of AI to create customized bots like (bacterium.bot). Professor also made a reference on how AI helps specific areas of the hospital using EHR data to offer guidance and insights to the clinical personnel.
Projects presentation
We continued with the presentation of two projects of a collaboration between Innovation Sprint and the Gemelli Hospital on AI-driven studies. The APACHE project (cervical cancer) presented Prof. Vincenzo Valentini (Policlinico Gemelli / UCSC). The PADAWAN project (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) presented Luca Miele (Policlinico Gemelli / UCSC).
Subsequently, were some very interesting approaches on the use of AI for treatment for disease and patient profiling that presented Annemieke Witteveen (University of Twente). Then, Jonas Kuiper (University of Utrecht) continued giving us information Towards holistic profiling and personalized cancer treatment, Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and their treatment using Machine Learning algorithms. Wendy Oude Nijeweme– d’Hollosy (University of Twente) later spoke about Intelligent triage for low back pain.
R&D H2020 projects
Following we invited R&D H2020 projects that have AI use in several applications to pitch the vision of their projects. (10 minutes each)
- EU-STANDS4PM, Marc Kirschner (FZ-Juelich) H2020.
- REPO-TRIAL, Harald Schmidt (Maastricht University) H2020.
- INFINITECH, Christiane Grundloh (RRD) H2020.
- COUCH, Harm op den Akker (RRD) H2020.
- PANACEA, Aristodemos Pnevmatikakis (Innovation Sprint) H2020.
- CO-ADAPT, Konstantina Kostopoulou (Innovation Sprint) H2020.
Closure
We closed the workshop with a panel discussion on How AI can be integrated into Life Sciences and Healthcare moderated by Konstantina Kostopoulou.
So as closing remarks, we saw the use of AI to build models identifying characteristics or actions, to generate a hypothesis, predict future outcomes, inform decision and process optimization. We asked the panel participants their views on two big challenges acting as obstacles in the adoption of AI strategies in organizations and that is the required change management in processes and mentality of the people involved but also the technical safety and liability of these AI applications in the case of a potential fault and wrong prediction.
However challenging, AI adoption is the new reality for Healthcare market. For sure, we will see more and more adoptions in the near future. But, there are still many legal and ethical framework missed to support it.
What a great ending to a full year !!! 2020 Here we come !!!
We wish everyone Happy Holidays !!!
