Alibaba Group’s research institute, DAMO Academy, has formed a strategic partnership with the WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health to drive innovation in digital health and expand access to medical AI in developing countries.
The collaboration aims to leverage the resources and expertise of both organizations to conduct research, provide advisory services, and develop training programs in the fields of digital health, artificial intelligence, and industrial development.
The WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health, the first of its kind in the Western Pacific region, supports the World Health Organization in various areas, including information exchange, research, standards development, and technical training. The center’s collaboration with DAMO Academy signifies a commitment to harnessing digital innovations for global health and wellness.
Le Lu, Head of DAMO Academy’s medical AI team, expressed the shared vision of making medical AI accessible to those in need, stating, “Together, we aim to improve healthcare for those in need through the advancements in medical AI development and digital health accessibility.”
Shan Xu, Head of the WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the potential of the partnership to drive transformation in digital health, particularly for developing countries. The collaboration is expected to pool collective expertise and leverage cutting-edge AI technology to foster global health and wellness.
DAMO Academy’s medical AI team has been actively engaged in research with leading medical institutions to develop cost-effective and efficient AI-powered multi-cancer screening methods. Their AI model has demonstrated promising results in the early detection of seven common cancers through a single CT scan, with a study published in Nature Medicine magazine reporting a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 99.9% in pancreatic cancer detection.
The technology has already been implemented in two hospitals in China as part of Alibaba’s philanthropy program, and the collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health is expected to expand its reach to more developing countries, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes for populations worldwide.
