Mobile phone imaging and AI to screen oral cancers in low-resource settings
Official title: Mobile phone-based deep learning algorithm for oral lesion screening in low-resource settings
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11535364 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A low-cost mobile phone device with artificial intelligence is being developed to help frontline health workers screen for oral cancer early in low-resource areas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $66,340 |
| NIH project number | 3R33CA274717-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535364 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults at risk for oral cancer in LMIC settings and healthcare workers who will perform screening.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with established cancer or those not undergoing screening may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project uses a portable imaging device on a cell phone and deep learning to classify oral lesions. It partners engineers and oral cancer clinicians from several institutions to train non-expert readers to interpret images more accurately. The study advances through development and real-world testing in LMIC settings to improve timely detection and referral. Results will inform scalable approaches for early cancer screening where access to specialists is limited.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could enable earlier detection of oral cancer in resource-poor settings, potentially saving lives through timely treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed improved reader performance with AI-assisted screening, but challenges remain in field deployment and reading accuracy in non-expert settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rajadhyaksha, Milind — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Rajadhyaksha, Milind
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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.