Mobile platform using AI to screen for oral cancer in low-resource communities
Official title: Mobile Platform for Oral Cancer Screening and Diagnosis in Low and MiddleIncome Countries (LMICs)
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11614476 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A low-cost, AI-powered mobile tool helps frontline healthcare workers screen for oral cancer and triage patients in communities with limited access to specialists.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $47,928 |
| NIH project number | 3R21TW013364-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11614476 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults at high risk for oral cancer and with suspicious oral lesions who receive care at participating low-resource clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without suspicious lesions or those who do not access participating sites may not benefit from this screening approach.
What this research studies
This project aims to create an accessible mobile platform that uses a deep learning image classifier and a stain-free imaging device to detect suspicious oral lesions. By combining on-site brush cytology with rapid AI analysis, the system supports quick triage and referral decisions at community clinics and primary care sites. The study will partner with clinical sites in India to validate performance in real-world, high-volume settings and ensure the platform is practical for low-resource environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the platform could enable earlier detection and faster referral for oral cancer, potentially improving survival and outcomes for high-risk patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous AI-enabled screening tools have shown promise in other cancer screening contexts, but this platform adds a low-cost, stigma-free, on-site cytology workflow for oral cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Rongguang — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Liang, Rongguang
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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.