WSK Medical and IMP Diagnostics Receive €1,2 million Eurostars Grant to Develop AI Solution

PORTO, Portugal - Aug. 23, 2024 - PRLog -- Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide, emphasizing the critical need for advanced diagnostic tools. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer type, and the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. The tumour-stroma ratio (TSR) is a histology parameter used to evaluate the proportion of stromal tissue (a type of connective tissue) relative to the tumour tissue within a cancerous lesion. This indicator has demonstrated significant prognostic value in patients with CRC and it may support decision-making in the selection of appropriate treatments for these patients.

Currently, the TSR is scored by visual estimation by a pathologist. However, this has significant inter-observer variability. Furthermore, the manual analysis of slides is a dulling, time-consuming task. Combined with a global shortage of pathologists[3], this results in a high workload amongst pathologists[4], which negatively impacts the quality and cost-effectiveness of oncology care. Therefore, there is a clear demand for a more efficient, and more consistent analysis of the TSR in cancer biopsies.

"We are thrilled to receive the Eurostars grant for this transformative project," said Marius Wellenstein, CEO of WSK Medical. "Our partnership with IMP Diagnostics aligns perfectly with our mission to advance medical technology and improve patient care. By harnessing the power of AI, we aim to revolutionize the way colorectal cancer is diagnosed and treated. By doing this with a strong partner like IMP Diagnostics, we create the perfect co-development of medical AI solutions between physicians and data scientists to maximize the impact and quality."

IMP Diagnostics' CEO, Isabel Macedo Pinto, added, "We are excited to collaborate with WSK Medical on this project. While AI-based tools are advanced and widespread in specialties like Radiology, Anatomical Pathology lags behind. Our mission is to innovate by developing AI tools that enhance pathologists' diagnostic capabilities and improve patient care."

WSK Medical and IMP Diagnostics have partnered to address this need by leveraging their combined expertise in medical technology and anatomical pathology. The collaborative project will use state-of-the-art AI algorithms to develop an automated system capable of delivering precise TSR evaluation in CRC, with the possibility to further utilize this technology on other cancer types. This innovative solution aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy, reduce workload for pathologists, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Website - https://impdiagnostics.com/en/