AI-guided ultrasound for smarter breast cancer screening
Official title: Leveraging Multi-Modal AI for Selective Use of Ultrasound in Breast Cancer Screening
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11392368 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI system helps decide when supplemental ultrasound is really needed for women with dense breasts, aiming to keep breast cancer detection high while reducing unnecessary tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $654,712 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB036530-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392368 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with dense breasts who are undergoing routine breast cancer screening.
✕Less likely to help
Women without dense breasts or those not undergoing screening may not benefit from this AI tool.
What this research studies
This project will create a multi-modal AI tool that combines mammograms and ultrasound data to better decide whether supplemental ultrasound is necessary during breast cancer screening. Using a large, diverse dataset from multiple institutions, the team will train a neural network called Multi-Modal Diagnoser (MMD) to improve diagnostic accuracy. The goal is to cut down unnecessary biopsies and procedures without missing cancers, making screening more cost-effective for women with dense breasts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to fewer unnecessary tests and faster, more precise screening for many women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous AI imaging studies have shown promise in improving diagnostic decisions, but large-scale external validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shen, Yiqiu — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Shen, Yiqiu
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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.