AI-powered prognostic model for Ewing sarcoma using digital pathology
Official title: Developing an AI-Based Prognostic Model for Ewing Sarcoma Using Digital Pathology Images
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11440620 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are building an AI tool to predict survival for children and adults with Ewing sarcoma using digitized pathology slides.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | July 2, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $426,828 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA317725-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440620 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Candidates include individuals with Ewing sarcoma whose diagnostic slides and outcome data are available in the COG and PC Data Commons datasets.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not fit the datasets or whose slides are not suitable for AI analysis may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Ewing sarcoma is a rare, aggressive cancer where current risk groups don’t fully capture individual biology. This project will use pre-trained pathology models to extract meaningful features from H&E whole-slide images and predict patient outcomes. Data from the COG and Pediatric Cancer Data Commons will be used to train and validate the model, focusing on feasibility and methodological rigor. The effort aims to move toward more personalized treatment decisions based on histology-derived risk signals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could tailor treatment intensity to a patient’s predicted risk, potentially improving survival and reducing unnecessary therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in histology-based AI prognostics has shown promise in some cancers, but application to Ewing sarcoma remains exploratory and early stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiao, Guanghua — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Xiao, Guanghua
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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.