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Deep Bio Inc., takes on a challenge to develop software using AI
September 18, 2017
“Learning amount ↑ · Error ↓” Utilization as a clinical supporting device ..
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has now made its headway into the biotech industry. Google is presenting a new technology revolution where systems such as ‘Alpha Go’ are involved in new drug development, diagnosis, and treatment. However, experts in artificial intelligence do not have it easy to commercializing the technology into the biofield. There are no proven business models in which start-ups and small businesses are struggling to establish and can profit from. In this regard, it is worth noting that Deep Bio, formed in 2015., is a company with real experts in artificial intelligence and IT. Majority of the employees have been developing a model through constant communication and collaboration with medical and bio-professionals. Deep Bio has set early goals to help physicians diagnose prostate cancer more accurately and efficiently.
Taking a look on the process of diagnosing prostate cancer, the first initial step is measuring the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level based on a blood test. When the PSA level results are abnormal, a prostate biopsy is recommended to examine further for suspicious areas. The prostate tissues collected from the biopsy test are examined under a microscope by a pathologist. Pathologists use the Gleason Scoring system guideline to observe and determine the cancer severity based on the tissue patterns.
Sun Woo Kim, the founder, and CEO of Deep Bio pointed out the limitations of the pathological diagnosis process. “Even when the same physician analyzes the same tissue again in time, the diagnostic concordance rate is about 80%. Also, there is an inter and intra-observer variability between pathologists interpreting the slides, so therefore, AI-diagnostic software developed by Deep Bio can be a solution to this problem. Deep Bio’s AI-diagnostic software is built by digitally scanning the tissues and using these images to train the model. “The software can learn and store myriad sample images in a short period because deep learning has the unlimited capacity to learn,” Kim said.
Kim also mentioned the barriers to examining cancer through artificial intelligence. Due to the variability of tissue staining & slide preparation done by different hospitals, it can cause image variations potentially making it uneasy for AI to analyze images. “To solve this problem, we have developed an algorithm that corrects the new image colors according to the image that is the reference point,” Kim said. The company has confirmed that it has the highest accuracy in reading the images when applying the algorithm developed by Deep Bio.
The company plans to expand its services into the U.S market espousing the shortage of pathologists. There are companies in the U.S. that are developing artificial intelligence in pathology, and one of the notable companies are PathAI, who was founded by Adityco Kosla & Andrew Beck. PathAI is currently collaborating with Philips on breast cancer and other types of diseases.
The Deep Bio founder emphasized that “AI cannot wholly replace pathologists. Instead, it can help them make better decisions to treat patients.” And further said, “So it is important for us to keep improving our technology by finding the best mechanisms and methods and apply it into our model.”
Deep Bio’s vision is to develop a company that can significantly contribute to the bio industry. And Kim further said his goal is to build a company that adds value to society.
For more information:
http://www.biospectator.com/view/news_view.php?varAtcId=4030
2017.09.18
Biospector
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