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The Aga Khan University (AKU) in Kenya has received a Ksh. 112M research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to improve the speed and accuracy of colorectal cancer diagnosis.
Aga Khan University, supported by University of Michigan’s Center of Global Health Equity (CGHE) will use the grant to study the use of AI technology to overcome barriers in specialized training required for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in cases of colorectal cancer in Africa. The grant comes at an opportune time as the University’s Cancer Centre marks its three-year anniversary.
“I am thrilled with this NIH grant, which will enable us to make meaningful strides in addressing the challenges of colorectal cancer diagnosis and prognostication in Africa. Our ultimate goal is to create a future where diagnostic limitations, especially in the area of histo- and molecular-pathology, can be overcome through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Dr Mansoor Saleh, Founding Director of the Cancer Centre at Aga Khan University Kenya.
Colorectal cancer is a significant public health concern across Africa, where specialized training and access to advanced diagnostic technologies have posed substantial barriers to early diagnosis and effective treatment. According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide accounting for approximately 10 percent of cancer cases.
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The Global Cancer Observatory notes that colorectal cancer has a 2.5 percent 5-year prevalence in Africa as of 2020.
“This NIH grant is a testament to the incredible research collaboration between the Center for Global Health Equity at the University of Michigan and Aga Khan University in Kenya. It highlights the potential of research originating in Kenya to make a lasting impact on global health. Together, we are committed to advancing healthcare and promoting equity in health outcomes for all,” noted Professor Akbar Waljee CGHE Member, and Director of the Aga Khan University and University of Michigan collaboration.
The NIH-funded research initiative will be led by an interdisciplinary team of oncologists, pathologists, surgeons, statisticians, and informaticians from the Aga Khan University, Center of Global Health Equity, and Tenwek Hospital, a community-based public hospital in Bomet County.
The project will build on ongoing collaborative research efforts between the Aga Khan University and the Center for Global Health Equity, including the Utilizing Health Information for Meaningful impact in East Africa through Data Science (UZIMA-DS) Research Hub.
The UZIMA-DS Research Hub aims to create a scalable, sustainable platform to apply novel approaches to data assimilation and advanced artificial intelligence- and machine learning-based methods to serve as early warning systems to improve health outcomes in Africa.