Moorfields Eye Hospital has partnered with Insitro to enhance research into neurodegenerative diseases using AI. They will develop a foundational AI model leveraging 35 million ocular images to identify new genetic targets while prioritizing patient data privacy.
A new collaboration between Moorfields Eye Hospital and the biotechnology firm Insitro aims to enhance research on neurodegenerative diseases. They plan to utilize ocular imaging to develop an AI foundation model that identifies genetic targets for these conditions. Insitro’s machine learning capabilities will complement the INSIGHT Health Data Research Hub’s vast resources.
Professor Pearse Keane, MD, emphasized the venture’s importance, stating it aligns with INSIGHT’s mission to innovate in patient care and healthcare systems. This partnership is a pioneering effort for INSIGHT, ensuring patient data remains secure and accessible only to authorized researchers.
The collaboration will institute an AI foundation model that aids in patient segmentation and advances biomarker identification across various diseases. This model will be designed to analyze extensive datasets, enhancing the precision of applications focused on specific medical tasks and accelerating the discovery of new genetic targets.
Moorfields’ INSIGHT initiative offers unparalleled access to 35 million ocular images, which are crucial for understanding chronic health issues. Insitro’s CEO, Daphne Koller, described these OCT images as a “treasure trove of information,” linking the health of the eye, brain, and beyond. This groundbreaking work seeks to elucidate disease biology and identify innovative treatment avenues while respecting patient privacy.
The partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital and Insitro highlights a significant step forward in utilizing AI for understanding neurodegenerative diseases. By combining vast ocular data and advanced machine learning techniques, the collaboration promises to enhance diagnostic and treatment pathways and safeguard patient privacy. Their joint efforts may lead to groundbreaking discoveries in genetic research and disease management.
Original Source: europe.ophthalmologytimes.com
