To deliver faster and more accurate diagnoses for conditions like breast cancer and Alzheimer’s, a biomedical engineer at Toronto Metropolitan University is harnessing the power of AI in medical imaging to advance diagnostic precision, personalize treatment, and potentially improve outcomes for patients.
AI tools developed in the engineer’s lab help pathologists and radiologists diagnose diseases more accurately and efficiently. In brain imaging, AI tools analyze MRI data to detect patterns and extract biomarkers like brain structure volume and shape that aid in diagnosing conditions such as dementia. Since vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s often have overlapping symptoms, diagnosis can be challenging. In a 2023 study, the engineer developed a patented AI tool that identified distinct biomarkers to help doctors tell the two apart, allowing for earlier, more personalized treatment and access to targeted clinical trials.
Additionally, in collaboration with Sunnybrook and St. Michael’s hospitals, they have also used AI to predict which patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) would develop Alzheimer’s, up to four years in advance, supporting more tailored interventions and lifestyle recommendations.
For more information, visit Toronto Metropolitan University.
