AI tool that reads tumor biopsy slides to predict outcomes and treatment benefit
An AI-enabled Digital Pathology Platform for Multi-Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis and Prediction of Therapeutic Benefit
This project uses artificial intelligence to analyze routine pathology slides to help identify which cancer patients may safely need less or more treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170478 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are training an AI to find patterns in standard H&E-stained tumor slides that link to patient outcomes and response to therapy. They will build the tool using past patient samples and clinical outcomes across cancers such as breast, prostate, lung, and head & neck. The team aims to create a lower-cost alternative to expensive gene-expression tests so more patients—especially in low- and middle-income regions—can get prognostic information. If the AI performs well, it could be tested prospectively at participating hospitals to guide adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation decisions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with one of the included cancers (breast, prostate, lung, head & neck) who have available formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy slides and are facing adjuvant treatment decisions.
Not a fit: Patients without available pathology slides, those with cancer types not included in the project, or those with advanced metastatic disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help avoid unnecessary chemotherapy or radiation for some patients and better target treatment for those who need it, at lower cost.
How similar studies have performed: Prior digital pathology and AI studies, including work from this research team, have shown promise in predicting outcomes from H&E slides, but clinical replacement of established gene tests is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Madabhushi, Anant — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Madabhushi, Anant
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 below.