Petr Holub Explores AI's Role in Cancer Care at Brno Oncology Days

1.–3. 11. 2023 - Brno Oncology Days, Brno

IT specialist Petr Holub, the project lead of the BioMedAI project, delivered a lecture at the prestigious professional symposium, Brno Oncology Days 2023, focusing on the latest insights and practices in the field of oncology. His presentation into the utilization of advanced technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Petr Holub concentrated on the potential of artificial intelligence and data analysis, emphasizing their significant contribution to personalized medicine and the streamlining of clinical studies.

Participants at the Brno Oncology Days symposium had a unique opportunity to hear from Petr Holub, recognized as one of the leading experts in IT applications in medicine and a key figure in the BioMedAI project. He underscored the importance of data security and protection in oncological research and practice. He also discussed the challenges posed by the integration of new technologies into existing healthcare systems and how these innovations can aid cancer patients.

Integrating AI in Biomedicine: Highlights from the Czech Pathologists' Congress

26.–28. 10. 2023

The 48th Congress of Czech Pathologists taking place in Zlín, Czech Republic, featured a compelling showcase of the intersection between medical expertise and information technology, with a focus on the BioMedAI project. Key speakers IT specialist Tomáš Brázdil from Masaryk University and pathologist Rudolf Nenutil from Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute collaborated to apply machine learning to pathology, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy through AI systems assisting pathologists in their work. Brázdil emphasized the significance of problem formulation, meticulous data preparation, and rigorous testing supervised by pathologists to ensure the effectiveness of AI systems in clinical practice. He provided a comprehensive overview of the entire process, emphasizing the need for collaboration between IT specialists and medical professionals. Nenutil's exploration of how neural networks can identify suspicious areas in prostate biopsies showcased the alignment of AI diagnostic features with traditional pathology techniques. He discussed the strengths and limitations of neural networks in pathology, advocating for ongoing research and development.

The presentations underscored the transformative potential of machine learning in enhancing medical diagnostics, positioning the BioMedAI project as a significant stride toward integrating AI in clinical settings. The congress highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for advancing contemporary medicine. The discussions and insights from Brázdil and Nenutil not only showcased progress in biomedicine but also emphasized the collaborative spirit driving innovation in healthcare.

Project BioMedAI at the event AI 4 All: The Key to the Future

14. 10. at the Jiří Mahen Library, Brno

The AI 4 All event, held in Brno, Czech Republic, on October 14, 2023, in collaboration with the Jiří Mahen Library, engaged a diverse audience across age groups to explore the world of artificial intelligence. The program featured various lectures and workshops for adults, children, and students, providing practical demonstrations of AI applications in different fields, interactive quizzes, and creative workshops for the youngest participants. IT specalist Tomáš Brázdil from the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University contributed with a lecture on digital pathology, introducing an innovative assistance system based on machine learning with the potential to revolutionize diagnostic processes in medicine.

During his presentation, he emphasized his active participants on the BioMedAI project, which focuses on advanced artificial intelligence technologies for developing the new cancer treatment methods. His discourse underscored how AI can contribute to more precise and efficient diagnostics. The AI 4 All event provided an inspiring platform for experts and the public to meet, deepening awareness of the importance of AI in both current and future societies.

Scientist Tomáš Brázdil unlocks AI secrets at event AI 4 Talents 

13. 10. at VIDA! Science Centre, Brno

As part of the AI 4 Talents event in the VIDA! Science Centre, Brno, Czech Republic, which attracted enthusiastic high school students and their educators, IT specalist Tomáš Brázdil from the Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing at the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, made a significant presentation. His lecture titled "Neural Networks and Image Recognition: A Historical Journey with Surprises" provided attendees with a captivating insight into the development of neural networks and their applications, generating considerable interest among young talents.

Brázdil also shared information about the BioMedAI project, which is an example of applying artificial intelligence in medicine. Within this project, advanced AI technologies are utilized to develop new methods for cancer treatment, representing significant potential for improving healthcare and offering new hope for patients. His contribution thus demonstrated how artificial intelligence can positively impact not only the technological realm but also make a substantial contribution to the fields of biomedicine and healthcare.

Petr Holub presented BioMedAI's role in advancing explainable AI     in medicine at BioTechX Europe 2023

4.–6. 10. 2023

At the BioTechX Europe conference, Petr Holub from BioMedAI took the stage to present groundbreaking advancements in the application of explainable artificial intelligence in medicine.

Holub's presentation at BioTechX Europe focused on the use of explainable AI in medicine, particularly in diagnosing prostate cancer. He emphasized how explaining AI models can boost their credibility in healthcare. Additionally, he highlighted BBMRI's vital role in providing samples and expertise, showcasing its significance in advancing explainable AI. The presentation showcased the potential of explainable AI in medical diagnosis and BioMedAI's dedication to healthcare innovation.

BioTechX Europe congress
Europe's largest congress focused on diagnostics, precision medicine, and digital transformation in pharmaceutical development and healthcare, gathering 3000 leaders, 400 speakers, and 100 start-ups. The last annual event was held in Basel in early October 2023.

BioMedAI Project Takes Centre Stage on Czech TV's 'About Science and Scientists'

24. 6. 2023

In the Czech Television program "About Science and Scientists", aired on June 24, 2023, the spotlight was on the BioMedAI project. This pioneering project strives to harness the power of advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning methods within biomedical research and oncology. The show offered viewers an inside look at the collaborative efforts of scientists and IT specialists working together to develop algorithms that can analyze complex medical data and contribute to improved diagnostics and personalized cancer treatment.

The broadcast featured various aspects of the BioMedAI project, including its advantages for clinical practice and its potential impact on patients. The discussion highlighted the critical role of interdisciplinary cooperation between medicine and information technology, showcasing how cutting-edge technologies are forging new pathways in the battle against cancer. The program also paid close attention to the ethical considerations surrounding personal data and the confidentiality of information, underscoring their significance in this domain.

To watch the program in the Czech language: O vědě a vědcích: Umělá inteligence v onkologii

Workshop in Explainable AI Models

27.–29. 3. 2023

Explainability of AI models is helpful to support adoption of AI tools in medical environments and also means for AI developers to understand their models and steer their developments. The workshop focused on concepts of explainability and how explainability is applied to AI in digital pathology. The workshop participants prepared an extensive literature survey to provide a basis for the subsequent discussions. The main workshop topics included:

• concepts of explainability and their use in AI models
• explainability by design vs. post hoc explainability methods
• explainability specifically in image analyses
• certification of AI models in medicine and use of explainability for certification purposes

Data Management Workshop

1.–3. 2. 2023

Management of large volumes of imaging, associated phenotypical/clinical and other data is becoming a challenge for health care institutions. We have organized a first in the series of workshops within the BioMedAI, focusing on bringing together experts on medical data management from Medical University Graz and Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute with experts from Institute of Computer Science at Masaryk University focusing on building storage and data processing capacities as a part of national eInfrastructures.

The workshop allowed introducing medical partners of the project and dealt with the following topics:

• what should be data formats for long-term storage of whole slide images?
• what are the existing data flows and what should be a data flows in AI-assisted environments from pathologist perspective?
• what are the state-of-the-art infrastructures for storing and processing sensitive data?

The partners introduced their existing solutions and gaps have been identified and discussed.