Alibaba Group’s research institute, DAMO Academy, has joined forces with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Center on Digital Health in a landmark partnership to advance medical AI innovations and expand accessibility in developing countries. This collaboration signifies a significant step towards leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to improve global healthcare outcomes.
The WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health, the first of its kind in the Western Pacific region, plays a pivotal role in supporting WHO initiatives. It spearheads digital health information exchange, scientific research, and international standard development, while also providing technical training to member countries.
This strategic partnership, officially launched at the UN’s AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, unites the strengths of both entities. DAMO Academy and the WHO Collaborating Center will collaborate on research and provide expert guidance in the fields of digital health, AI, and industrial development, ultimately supporting organizations like the WHO and the International Telecommunication Union.
An Inherently Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Recognizing the inherently interdisciplinary nature of AI and digital health, the partnership also focuses on joint training initiatives. These programs will encompass medicine, engineering, digital health, AI, industrial development, and other relevant fields. The goal is to cultivate a new generation of professionals equipped with the comprehensive skillset necessary to advance digital healthcare solutions.
Furthermore, the WHO Collaborating Center will leverage its resources to actively promote DAMO Academy’s medical AI solutions in developing countries. This strategic move strengthens international outreach for digital health initiatives, ultimately fostering health and wellness through technological advancements.
“Through this partnership with the WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health, DAMO Academy embarks on a mission to democratize access to medical AI for those in need,” said Le Lu, Head of DAMO Academy’s medical AI team. “By working together, we aim to leverage advancements in medical AI development and digital health accessibility to improve healthcare for underserved communities.”
“This collaboration signifies not just a shared vision but a tangible commitment to harnessing the power of digital innovations to cultivate global health and wellness,” echoed Shan Xu, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Digital Health. “By pooling our expertise and leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, we are poised to drive a transformative shift in digital health, particularly for developing countries.”
Pioneering Multi-Cancer Early Detection with AI
DAMO Academy’s medical AI team is at the forefront of exploring cost-effective and efficient methods for multi-cancer screening using AI technology. This ongoing research, conducted in collaboration with leading global medical institutions, has yielded significant progress. Their AI model demonstrates exceptional promise in detecting seven common cancers, including pancreatic, oesophagal, lung, breast, liver, gastric, and colorectal, all from a single CT scan.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy in the case of pancreatic cancer, a notoriously difficult-to-detect disease with a poor prognosis when identified at later stages. A large-scale real-world pancreatic cancer detection study, published in Nature Medicine by DAMO Academy and a consortium of over 10 medical institutions, revealed an impressive sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 99.9% achieved by their AI model. This technology is already being implemented in two hospitals within China’s Zhejiang province as part of Alibaba’s philanthropic program, demonstrating its real-world potential.
The DAMO Academy and WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health partnership represents a significant milestone in the global healthcare landscape. By combining expertise and resources, this collaboration holds immense promise for expanding access to advanced medical AI solutions in developing countries. This, in turn, has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for millions around the world.