Detecting early-stage cancer with AI! DeepRad.AI assistance, giving hope to 200,000 high-risk groups?

In 2022, there were 10,000 deaths from lung cancer in Taiwan, accounting for one-fifth of all cancer deaths, making it the leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. The Ministry of Health and Welfare pointed out that there is a significant difference in the 5-year survival rate between different stages of lung cancer diagnosis: the survival rate drops drastically from 90% in the first stage to 10% in the fourth stage, and half of the cases are diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, missing the golden treatment opportunity.

To this end, the government has been promoting early detection programs in the past two years, hoping that high-risk groups such as middle-aged and elderly people can identify symptoms of lung cancer before it worsens. However, a health check process requires reviewing hundreds of computerized tomography images, which is not only mentally exhausting but also a challenge for doctors' visual acuity.

Taiwanese medical startup DeepRad.AI, which promotes "heart and lung screening together", has introduced "DeepLung-CAC", using AI technology to assist doctors in quickly detecting and analyzing high-risk groups, like a second pair of eyes for radiologists.

How did the Taiwanese medical AI startup DeepRad.AI win the favor of Nvidia and become a partner, and apply the solution to multiple hospitals such as NTU Hospital?

Kill two birds with one stone! CT for lung cancer screening, and also assess cardiovascular risk.

DeepLung-CAC is a software that uses AI to identify chest CT images, with multiple AI models built in, accumulating years of health examination image database from the three northern hospitals of Taipei Medical University, Shuang Ho, and Wan Fang. This technology can identify subtle signs that are difficult to see with the naked eye, quickly pointing out abrupt white spots in 300 to 500 CT images, which are the patterns of early cancer in CT scans.

Image source: DeepRad.AI DeepLung-CAC can detect subtle signs that are difficult to see with the naked eye. In 300 to 500 CT images, it quickly identifies abrupt white spots, which are the patterns of cancer in CT scans.

Shenrui co-founder Zhang Yaoji explained that the platform can use image analysis to identify pulmonary nodules, allowing radiologists to quickly interpret and explain. The product's advantages are not limited to AI-assisted detection, but also to make it easier for radiologists to interpret, so that they can immediately interpret and complete the report after the examination.

A low-dose CT image can not only examine the lungs, but also predict the degree of risk of coronary artery calcification, and in the future, it will also include the assessment of osteoporosis risk. Due to the higher proportion of the elderly who are prone to lung cancer, myocardial infarction, and osteoporosis, the team has developed these three main items. In addition to achieving early treatment or preventive care, this feature can also achieve the effect of screening heart and lung together. Zhang Yaoji said, 'This is similar to the concept of 'value-added services'!'

They are now cooperating with hospitals and health examination centers to quickly obtain test results and can directly turn to hospitals for prevention or treatment. As for the reason for choosing this business model, it is because they observed that self-paid health check items without health insurance support are services that hospitals are constantly expanding. In addition, Shenrui Artificial Intelligence also targets the government's free lung cancer screening policy and provides services and assistance from it.

Currently, the software for heart and lung screening has been certified by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), while the risk assessment for osteoporosis has been completed and is undergoing clinical trials.

Another miraculous artificial intelligence software expected to be launched is "DeepBrain-Cognito", which also serves the elderly. By scanning 3D magnetic resonance images, it establishes a 4D trajectory map of brain aging, not only predicting the risk of dementia and cortical atrophy areas of the subjects, but also helps in early treatment to prevent deterioration. Currently, this technology is still in the clinical trial phase at hospitals.

Image source: DeepRad.AI DeepRad's upcoming software 'DeepBrain-Cognito' is also aimed at serving the elderly population. It uses the thickness of the cerebral cortex as a key factor in image analysis to assess the degree of cognitive impairment and brain atrophy in the subjects.

Radiologists and AI engineers work together, hoping to continue promoting preventive medicine

The divine artificial intelligence was initially developed by the research project of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Later, it moved out of the school and was founded by former vice president of Taipei Medical University, Chen Zhenyu, radiologist and AI engineer Chen Yanting, and Zhang Yaoji in 2023.

"We have radiologists and AI engineers working together," said Zhang Yaoji, "which is what makes our team unique." With Zhang Yaoji's background in public health and entrepreneurship, combined with the founders' expertise in clinical, theoretical, engineering, and market aspects, DeepRad.AI is more easily able to commercialize its products compared to other teams.

Image source: DeepRad.AI DeepRad.AI was initially developed as part of a research project funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology. It later evolved beyond the academic setting, and in 2023, it was founded as a company by former vice president of Taipei Medical University, Chen Zhen-Yu, radiologist and AI engineer Chen Yan-Ting, and Zhang Yao-Ji.

The company won the National Startup Award, the finalist in the potential new black technology field, and the GenAI Stars quality innovation award in its first year of establishment, and became a partner of Nvidia. They are currently cooperating with more than ten hospitals and have accumulated more than 25,000 cases in actual fields. In the future, they will actively obtain FDA certification in the United States and promote the implementation of the cardiovascular and pulmonary screening platform in major hospitals.

Quick Questions and Answers for Startups

Q: What are the most frequently asked questions by customers or investors? How would you respond?

A: At the fundraising stage, we are currently conducting Pre-A round fundraising, focusing on product optimization and market expansion, seeking strategic partners to accelerate growth.

Q: What resources does the team currently lack to achieve the next goal?

A: Overseas evidence collection is our key challenge, requiring a large amount of funds and professional talents to accelerate the evidence collection process, especially in the US and Japanese markets.

Q: What have you learned from entrepreneurship? Could you share your experience and thoughts on entrepreneurship so far?

A: Entrepreneurship keeps me optimistic and innovative. No matter how the environment changes, talent cultivation is the core of company growth and our most important asset.

Q: What are the three best things you have done since starting your business?

Domestic and international layout planning and strategy: We have successfully conducted global market planning, covering Asia, Europe, America, and other major markets.

Actively participating in competitions and exhibitions: increasing product and company exposure, gaining many potential cooperation opportunities and customers follow.

Continuous communication with the industry: Regularly participate in industry activities, share insights with experts, and facilitate many potential cooperation and business expansion opportunities.

Team Information

Company Name: Shenray Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd.

Establishment time: 2023

Product Name: DeepLung-CAC, DeepBrain-Cognito

Official website

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This article is authorized to be reprinted from: "Entrepreneurial Gathering Meet"

Original Author: Cai Kaiheng

Original Title: "Using AI to Detect Early Cancer, Northern Medical Startup DeepRad.AI Helps 200,000 High-Risk Groups"

'AI discovers early cancer! DeepRad.AI helps, is there hope for 200,000 high-risk groups?' This article was first published in 'encryption city'.