The project consists of 18 partners with world-class expertise in gastroenterology, machine learning, cancer screening, biostatistics, disease modelling, regulatory science, and ethics and law in medicine.
The full project estimate is 6 million Euro, 4.7 million allocated from Horizon Europe while the remaining will be covered by a UK funding body. About 1.8 million euro is awarded the University of Oslo (UiO). This is the first collaborative project under Horizon Europe at the Faculty of Medicine at UiO.
Mori, a gastroenterologist and clinical researcher, is part of the research group Clinical Effectiveness Research at the Department of Health Management and Health Economics at UiO and the Department of Transplantation Medicine at Oslo University Hospital.
The Clinical Effectiveness research group, led by Professor Mette Kalager, conducts large randomized trials and observation studies to test and compare diagnostic and therapeutic clinical interventions in different areas of clinical medicine. The main role of dr. Mori and the research group in the new project will be to use their experience and expertise in cutting edge clinical trials to lead and organise the multidisciplinary research team.
Integration of AI technologies into clinical medicine
Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality through personalised treatment. So far, the integration of AI technologies into clinical medicine has been hampered by challenges related to uncertain long-term clinical benefits, cost-effectiveness, and ethical and legal concerns.
By assessing the value of AI-assisted colonoscopy in colorectal cancer prevention, this project will have large potential impact on patients, society, and economy in Europe and the World.
– The new project aims at drastically improving colorectal cancer diagnosis and polyp treatment. One of the main tasks of our project is to establish the value of AI-assisted colonoscopy in colorectal cancer prevention. This can be achieved by conducting a pan-European, population-based, randomised trial, Mori explains and adds:
– My research focus is to change the standard of care by establishing reliable clinical evidence and eventually improve patients' outcome, such as incidence of cancer. To achieve this goal, I am interested in implementing artificial intelligence technology in colonoscopy and gastroenterology practice. I am thrilled and honoured to receive this prestigious grant from the European Commission. At the same time, I am feeling a decent responsibility to maximize the project value and results with the use of the precious resource from European countries.