Joint scientific project of the Silesian University of Technology and the Municipal Hospital in Gliwice
Nearly nine thousand patients were examined during a special scientific project entitled "We can detect the most dangerous lung diseases faster with artificial intelligence".
There are already conclusions from the first research project of this kind, carried out by the Municipal Hospital No. 4 in Gliwice and the Silesian University of Technology and co-financed by the National Centre for Research and Development. ‘The conclusions are extremely valuable considering the scale of the research: almost nine thousand patients, over 10 thousand tests and the possibility of obtaining detailed information on the patient's health condition from a single test’ explained Prof. Joanna Polańska from the Silesian University of Technology, supervising the project.
Artificial intelligence has become the key to success. ‘By analysing CT and clinical data, artificial intelligence systems are able to provide clinical predictions that can help doctors in their daily work. Additionally, the data obtained by segmenting lung images will allow a quantitative summary of morphological changes found not only in COVID-19, but also in other diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). This will allow more accurate monitoring of regression or progression of changes found on CT scan in interstitial pneumonias and, in conjunction with other clinical data, prognosis of the course of the disease. Importantly, the system is also able to assist the medical personnel e.g. in revealing potential lesions (e.g. nodules) within the lung when the patient does not yet have any symptoms’ concluded Prof. Polańska.
The Silesian University of Technology conducts extensive applied research in interdisciplinary Priority Research Areas. ‘Cooperation with the socio-economic environment and practical application of the results of our work play a vital and important role. Among the research topics, personalized medicine and artificial intelligence are one of the key points. From the very beginning of the pandemic, we have also taken up challenges related to reducing its effects, supporting medical and crisis services in this respect’ said Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology.
Municipal Hospital No. 4 in Gliwice is an institution where experience in diagnosing lung diseases has become a great challenge and a completely new area of medical activity. ‘Lessons learned from the battle with COVID-19 on the front line are now translated into the language of science and the creation of bioinformatic tools for more effective diagnostics’ recalled Przemysław Gliklich, the president of the Gliwice hospital.
The value of the project is over PLN 5 million.
