CLARIFY — CLoud ARtificial Intelligence For pathologY

Results in brief

CLoud ARtificial Intelligence For pathologY

Digital pathology is an image-based information environment that enables the management and interpretation of pathological information generated from the digitalization of a tissue sample. Digital pathology has seen incredible growth in recent years as the quality of microscopy scanners has improved, data transfer speeds have increased and computational software and hardware have become more powerful. Digital pathology offers a number of potential benefits, as it facilitates sharing cases between multiple pathologists, enables automatic image interpretation and increases diagnostic efficiency. The main goal of CLARIFY was to develop a robust automated digital diagnostic environment based on artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-oriented data algorithms to facilitate automatic histological image interpretation and diagnosis with the aim of maximizing the benefits of digital pathology. Throughout the project, CLARIFY has provided insights into the field of digital pathology to develop customized technical solutions and has leveraged AI models to objectively evaluate clinicopathologic parameters, standardizing assessments and reducing variability among pathologists, thereby enhancing tumor classification and histopathological interpretation. Specifically, CLARIFY has pioneered novel and robust methods for data-driven Whole Slide Image (WSI) interpretation across three selected diseases. Cutting-edge deep neural network models and tailored architectures were employed for feature extraction and classification. CLARIFY introduced both diagnostic and prognostic classification pipelines, along with content-based image retrieval capabilities. Furthermore, CLARIFY has explored and constructed an advanced decentralized data flow management architecture for histological images and related metadata, seamlessly linking necessary analysis tools within a federated cloud environment. As a primary outcome, CLARIFY has nurtured the growth of 12 young scientists who contribute to making more informed decisions in pathology. Two PhD theses have already been successfully defended within the project's framework, with others scheduled for defense in the coming months.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Pathology has repeatedly been highlighted as being ripe for innovation in terms of workflow efficiency and more accurate diagnostics. In fact, the estimated market growth for digital pathology systems is huge, with the forecast to reach 143 million dollars by 2019 in the EU and 205 million dollars in the USA. Despite this boost in sales, diagnostic pathology in practice today is still a slow and cumbersome process that relies heavily on the subjective interpretation of a microscopic image by a qualified pathologist. This imposes a limitation, even more substantial in small pathology departments where the pathologists might not be specialized in particular areas.CLARIFY addresses the challenge to improve pathology departments’ workflow optimising current diagnosis and monitoring processes. With this purpose, CLARIFY’s scientific goal is to develop a robust automated digital diagnostic environment based on cutting-edge technologies (such as digital image processing, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, etc.) to enhance knowledge sharing and reach better‐informed decisions. To achieve it, CLARIFY targets to deliver an innovative, multinational, multi-sectorial, and multidisciplinary research and training programme that link two highly differentiated specialities: engineering and medicine, with a focus on digital pathology. CLARIFY’s partnership gathers relevant scientific staff from academia, industry and hospitals, which will be involved in a high-level personalised training programme that will guarantee ESRs and future PhD students outstanding Career Opportunities. CLARIFY will disseminate results to a wide spectrum of stakeholders, create awareness in the general public about digital pathology and encourage careers related to this field among young students.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA · ValenciaCoordinatorSpain
BITUNITOR AS · SANDNESNorway
ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM · RotterdamNetherlands
FUNDACION PARA LA INVESTIGACION DEL HOSPITAL CLINICO DE LA COMUNITAT VALENCIANA, FUNDACION INCLIVA · ValenciaSpain
HELSE STAVANGER HF · STAVANGERNorway
TYRIS SOFTWARE SL · ValenciaSpain
UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA · GranadaSpain
UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM · AmsterdamNetherlands
UNIVERSITETET I STAVANGER · StavangerNorway

CLARIFY · CLoud ARtificial Intelligence For pathologY

Results in brief

CLoud ARtificial Intelligence For pathologY

Project objective

Participants

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