AI-assisted microendoscopy to find esophageal cancer early
Official title: AI-Assisted Microendoscopy for the Early Detection of Esophageal Cancer
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11397210 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a small, high-resolution endoscope plus AI to help doctors spot early esophageal cancer in people at risk, especially where screening is limited.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2014 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $21,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA181275-09S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397210 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults undergoing endoscopic screening or surveillance for esophageal squamous cell neoplasia or those at higher risk due to geography, symptoms, or prior findings.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced, already-diagnosed esophageal cancer, those unable to undergo endoscopy, or those with non-squamous esophageal conditions may not benefit from this specific screening approach.
What this research studies
If you join, a tiny, high-resolution microendoscope (mHRME) is used during endoscopy to take close-up images of the esophagus while AI software highlights areas that look abnormal. The team has developed deep-learning algorithms and tested them alongside expert and novice readers. They completed a randomized trial (about 918 people in the U.S. and China) and a small pilot using the AI-assisted device in Brazil to compare image interpretation and biopsy decisions. The goal is to reduce unnecessary biopsies and improve early detection of esophageal squamous cell neoplasia in underserved regions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could catch precancerous or early esophageal lesions sooner and reduce unneeded biopsies, lowering risk and cost for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Related work shows high sensitivity for chromoendoscopy but poor specificity, and this project has already reported a randomized trial and a pilot suggesting the AI-assisted microendoscope can improve diagnostic performance in some settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anandasabapathy, Sharmila — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Anandasabapathy, Sharmila
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AI-assisted microendoscope to find esophageal cancer early
This project uses a small, high-resolution endoscope plus artificial intelligence to help doctors spot early esophageal squamous cell cancer in people at risk, especially where screening is scarce.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.