Funding for AI in detecting pancreatic cancer and pathology Hanarth Fund supports two projects at Radboudumc

The Hanarth Fund is providing funding this year for two AI projects at Radboud university medical center. John Hermans will develop AI to detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage using CT scans. Frédérique Meeuwsen will work to bridge the gap between AI technology and clinical practice within pathology.  

Here are the two projects receiving funding:  

Earlier detection of pancreatic cancer  

John Hermans, Megan Schuurmans, Natalia Alves, Henkjan Huisman

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest form of cancer worldwide, primarily because it is usually detected too late, when curative treatment is no longer possible. Early detection with CT scans could help, but the first signs of the disease are often difficult for radiologists to see on these scans. AI can assist with this. Previous research has already shown that AI can detect pancreatic cancer early on CT scans.

In this project, researchers at Radboudumc will further improve this AI and then test it on large quantities of scans. Both the AI and the data will be made publicly available on the AI platform Grand-Challenge.org to ensure open and reliable development, and to allow other researchers to use the data. The AI will then be ready to support radiologists in the clinic in the early detection of pancreatic cancer, with the goal of improving patient survival and quality of life.

The pathologist of the future

Frédérique Meeuwsen, Jeroen van der Laak

Pathology diagnostics face mounting pressure from increasing patient numbers, the demand for extensive disease characterization, and a declining number of pathologists. The rise of AI-driven image analysis promises to transform workflows and address these challenges, giving rise to a new field called computational pathology. Despite the potential, few AI algorithms are used in daily clinical work, and studies on their real-world impact are scarce. The shortage of pathologists familiar with AI has created a leadership gap in overseeing AI implementation.

The aim of this fellowship is to explore every aspect of the AI development cycle, from early problem identification to model development and successful implementation. The combination of top-level research at Radboudumc, internships at internationally renowned labs, and education, will help acquiring all the knowledge and practical tools to become a pathologist-of-the-future, and help bridge the gap between technology and clinical workflow.

About the Hanarth Fund

The Hanarth Fund was established on September 28, 2018, from the legacy of Arthur del Prado, founder and former CEO of ASM International. The fund aims to promote and improve the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of patients with cancer. In this context, the Hanarth Fund supports scientific research focused primarily, but not exclusively, on rare forms of cancer.

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