Latest updates from ICGI

Research Director Andreas Kleppe, at the Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics (ICGI), has been awarded funding from the Norwegian Research Council's FRIPRO scheme for the ENDPATH – End-to-End Pathology project. This initiative sets out to develop a new imaging system for digital pathology, using it to train artificial intelligence (AI) models that could improve predictions of cancer progression. The project, initially focusing on prostate cancer, aims to enhance both the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic tools.

Congratulations to Andreas Kleppe, who on Friday 14th June 2024 received the prestigious Early Career Award from Oslo University Hospital. His unwavering dedication, attention to detail, and ability to motivate others makes him a highly valued colleague.

Congratulations to Dr. Ole-Johan Skrede for successfully defending his doctoral thesis titled "Selected Studies on the Application of Histological Image Analysis in Cancer Diagnostics Using Deep Learning" on Friday, April 26, 2024. The dissertation took place at the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, at the University of Oslo, in the namesake's Ole-Johan Dahl’s House.

The increase in scientific publications on deep learning for cancer diagnostics in recent years is impressive, but the conversion of promising prototypes into automated systems for medical utilisation is still moderate.

A Norwegian study led by researchers at the Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics at Oslo University Hospital (ICGI) aims to determine whether AI can help doctors decide which patients need chemotherapy after colorectal cancer surgery. The study will involve about 2,000 patients from Norway, United Kingdom and other countries, and will test whether AI can assist clinicians in providing more personalized treatment.

Combining artificial intelligence-generated digital pathology tools, conventional histopathological assessment and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis can improve treatment stratification of patients with colorectal cancer after surgery. Kerr and colleagues outline this novel paradigm for personalized adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer in a new publication in Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.

Research funding from the Norwegian Cancer Society is raised by the Norwegian public and is an important contribution to Norwegian cancer research environments. The number of applications for the annual call for proposals was again numerous this year, and the competition is strong. Our project aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve risk stratification in patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver. We are grateful that the Norwegian Cancer Society has chosen to support our work and ambitions, which will enable the Institute to continue its work to guide in tailoring treatment options for patients with colorectal cancer.

We congratulate Håvard E. Danielsen as the recipient of King Olav V's Cancer Research Prize 2022. He has been awarded the prize for having developed methods using artificial intelligence (AI) giving cancer patients a more precise prognosis and counteract overtreatment.