How a Saudi university is using AI to transform the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases

Special How a Saudi university is using AI to transform the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases
Trained properly, AI can provide immense help to medical practitioners. (Shutterstock image)
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Updated 05 July 2024
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How a Saudi university is using AI to transform the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases

How a Saudi university is using AI to transform the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases
  • Saudi Arabia’s KAUST has developed SkinGPT-4 to help diagnose dermatological conditions and suggest treatments
  • Lead researcher Xin Gao says the technology could help patients in rural areas who do not have access to dermatologists

RIYADH: To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of dermatological care, experts at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have created a groundbreaking new diagnostic system, SkinGPT-4, which leverages the power of artificial intelligence.

Leading the research, Xin Gao, a professor of computer science, co-chair of the Center of Excellence on Smart Health, and chair of Bioinformatics Platform at KAUST, says SkinGPT-4’s goal is to detect, diagnose, and identify suitable treatments for skin diseases.

Developed in partnership with Juexiao Zhou, a PhD candidate at KAUST, who is the first author of SkinGPT-4, Gao says that the technology could provide a potentially life-saving service to patients, particularly those in rural areas where there is often a shortage of trained dermatologists.

“Those specific challenges in dermatology led to the creation of SkinGPT-4,” Gao told Arab News. “The variability in skin presentations and the need for specialized knowledge to correctly identify and treat these conditions highlighted the need for an advanced, AI-driven solution.”

The team identified the need for such a solution after recognizing the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods and the potential of AI, especially large language models (LLMs) such as the eponymous ChatGPT, in enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of dermatological diagnosis.

“With SkinGPT-4, users could upload their own skin photos for diagnosis and SkinGPT-4 could autonomously determine the characteristics and categories of skin conditions, perform analysis, provide treatment recommendations, and allow interactive diagnosis,” Gao said.




Gao and the KAUST team behind the AI dermatologist SkinGPT-4. (Supplied)

SkinGPT-4 diagnoses conditions that have distinct visual characteristics, such as acne, rosacea, melanoma, psoriasis, basal cell carcinoma, eczema, and many more.

Gao said that the development of SkinGPT-4 began with data collection and preprocessing, followed by model training and validation. “The team collected a large dataset of dermatological images and patient records to train the AI model,” he said.

“One of the significant challenges was integrating diverse data types, including images and text, which required collaboration between computer scientists and dermatologists. The multidisciplinary team worked together to ensure the AI could interpret and analyze skin disease images effectively.”

DID YOUKNOW?

• SkinGPT-4 diagnoses conditions that have distinct visual characteristics, such as melanoma, psoriasis, and eczema.

• It uses a combination of computer vision algorithms, large language models, and natural language processing.

• The technology could help doctors and patients in rural areas where there is often a shortage of trained dermatologists.

SkinGPT-4 uses a combination of computer vision algorithms, LLMs, and natural language processing (NLP), which enable programs to comprehend human languages. 

“The model processes dermatological images using a vision transformer (ViT) to identify patterns and features indicative of different skin conditions,” Gao said.

“The ViT is aligned with an LLM named Llama-2-13b-chat on our dataset with a customized two-step training strategy. By doing so, the LLM Llama-2-13b-chat can understand the skin disease images and allow conversational diagnosis with the patient in natural language.”

SkinGPT-4 could be particularly useful in diagnosing rare skin conditions that general practitioners may not easily recognize.

“A patient presenting with an uncommon rash could be quickly and accurately diagnosed using SkinGPT-4, which has been trained on a vast array of dermatological images, including rare conditions,” Gao said.

“Additionally, for managing chronic skin diseases like psoriasis, SkinGPT-4 can monitor the progression and response to treatment, providing continuous support and adjusting treatment plans as needed.”

Researchers hope SkinGPT-4 will be a gamechanger for remote or underserved areas where there is a shortage of dermatologists.

“For instance, in a rural community where the nearest dermatologist is hundreds of miles away, a patient presents with a suspicious lesion that could be a rare form of skin cancer,” Gao said.




Trained properly, AI can provide immense help to medical practitioners. (Shutterstock image)

“Using SkinGPT-4, a local health care provider can take a high-resolution image of the lesion and input the patient’s medical history into the system. SkinGPT-4 analyzes the image and the patient’s information, quickly providing a preliminary diagnosis and recommendations for further action.”

And as SkinGPT-4 develops, Gao said the system will learn from its own mistakes through continuous learning and feedback mechanisms.

“By analyzing misdiagnoses and incorporating corrections, the system can refine its algorithms and improve its accuracy over time,” he said. “This iterative learning process ensures that SkinGPT-4 evolves and adapts to new data and emerging trends in dermatology.”

However, Gao is keen to stress that SkinGPT-4 is not designed to replace dermatologists altogether. Rather, the program is designed to serve as an evolving and optimizing tool, functioning as an assistant in facilitating communication between patients and doctors. 

“Our aspiration for SkinGPT-4 is to provide patients with more information about skin diseases, while also offering doctors valuable assistance in the diagnostic process.”
 

 


Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for Ukraine war peace talks in Riyadh

Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for Ukraine war peace talks in Riyadh
Updated 7 sec ago
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Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for Ukraine war peace talks in Riyadh

Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for Ukraine war peace talks in Riyadh
RIYADH: US President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia did a “great job” in hosting talks aimed at moving toward a resolution of the Russian-Ukraine war, and thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating the discussions in Riyadh.

Trump said on Wednesday that the conflict, which began three years ago this month, would have never started had he been president.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “talked the US into spending $350 billion to go into a war that that could not be won, that never had to start and never would have started if I was president,” said Trump, adding that Ukraine would never settle the war without US involvement.

Senior US and Russian officials attended a meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by senior Saudis, but no Ukrainians.

Trump said that Zelenskyy could have attended the discussions in the Saudi capital had he wanted to.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two sides agreed broadly to pursue three goals: to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.

Trump, talking at the FII PRIORITY Miami event, which runs between Feb. 19-21, said he hopes that a ceasefire arrives soon.

The president’s speech was wide-ranging, touching on efforts to cut government waste, boosting energy production, and his foreign policy objectives.

Dignitaries included Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund; Elon Musk, the head of a new US federal entity — called DOGE — meant to cut government waste; and Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US.

Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends

Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends
Updated 20 February 2025
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Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends

Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends
  • Secretary-general says event marked 4 years of progress

AMMAN: The Digital Cooperation Organization signed numerous memorandums of understanding during its fourth general assembly in Amman, which concluded on Wednesday.

The memorandums were signed between the DCO and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, the Agency for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Sultanate of Oman and 500 Global.

A statement of intent was also signed between the DCO and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation.

The signings came after a delegation from the DCO visited Jordan’s Prime Minister Jaafar Abdel Fattah Hassan.

Sami Smeirat, the Jordanian minister of digital economy and entrepreneurship, and the chairman of the DCO Council, said that Jordan’s presidency of the organization in 2024 had demonstrated the country’s ability to lead global efforts toward building an inclusive digital economy.

He said: “Throughout this year we have launched ambitious initiatives, strengthened public-private partnerships, and laid solid foundations to empower youth and women in the technology sector.”

Smeirat spoke of the 2025 presidency, which was handed to Kuwait.

He said: “We hand over the presidency to our brothers in the State of Kuwait. We reaffirm Jordan’s commitment to remaining an active partner in achieving the organization’s goals. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to realize our shared vision: a digital world marked by prosperity and fairness for all.”

Deemah Al-Yahya, the secretary-general of the DCO, said that the general assembly marked four years of progress for the organization.

The secretary-general highlighted DCO’s upcoming ambitions, adding: “While we have achieved much over the past four years, there is still important work ahead to drive digital economic growth for all.”

Wednesday’s event featured panels and discussions with leading experts from across the world.

The DCO was founded in November 2020 and currently has 16 nations as members, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Oman. It also has 39 observer and partner organizations.


Piece of Kaaba’s Kiswah gifted to Uzbekistan’s Center of Islamic Civilization

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. (SPA)
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. (SPA)
Updated 19 February 2025
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Piece of Kaaba’s Kiswah gifted to Uzbekistan’s Center of Islamic Civilization

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. (SPA)
  • Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah is currently on a visit to the Central Asian country
  • He handed over the piece of cloth to Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev

RIYADH: A piece of the holy Kaaba’s Kiswa was gifted by the Kingdom to the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, currently on a visit to the Central Asian country, handed over the piece of cloth to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the directive of King Salman.

Mirziyoyev commended the Kingdom’s efforts to develop Hajj and Umrah experiences and facilitate the journeys of Uzbek pilgrims to the Kingdom, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.


Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025

Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025
Updated 19 February 2025
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Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025

Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025
  • Visa-free travel scheme, improved flight links boost numbers of Saudis traveling to Britain
  • VisitBritain figures show rise in GCC tourists to UK likely to continue

LONDON: Increasing numbers of Saudi visitors are expected to spend an extra £200 million in the UK this year, thanks to improved visa-free travel and more flight routes.

Tourism authority VisitBritain has forecast 320,000 visits from Saudi Arabia in 2025 — a 12 percent increase on the 286,000 visits in 2023.

Saudi Arabia became one of seven Middle Eastern countries to be included in the UK’s electronic travel authorization scheme when the Kingdom was added in February 2024. 

Under the scheme, visitors to the UK can purchase a two-year permit allowing multiple journeys to the country. This replaces a more expensive, six-month electronic visa waiver.

The scheme is one of the reasons visitor numbers to the UK from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries are set to increase again above pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, spending by tourists is growing at an even faster rate, according to the VisitBritain figures compiled with Oxford Economics and published on Tuesday.

Saudi tourists are expected to spend £942 million in 2025 — 34 percent more than in 2023.

“Saudi Arabia is a very important inbound visitor market for the UK, and it is fantastic to see the continued growth forecast,” a VisitBritain spokesperson told Arab News.

“With the growing airline connectivity to the UK through regional gateways alongside the electronic travel authorization scheme, travel to the UK is now easier and more accessible for Saudi nationals.”

For the GCC countries overall, there are expected to be 1.4 million visits to the UK this year, up 8 percent on the 2024 estimate.

GCC visitors are set to spend £3.5 billion on their trips, another substantial increase on previous years.

The expected growth in travel numbers comes as two airlines prepare to launch new routes between the UK and Saudi Arabia next month.

UK airline Virgin Atlantic will run daily flights between Riyadh and Heathrow, while budget carrier Wizz Air will connect Jeddah and Gatwick.

As the UK seeks to boost tourism from the Gulf to help its economy, Saudi Arabia has in recent years opened up to global tourism, welcoming visitors to important historical areas such as AlUla.

VisitBritain and the Saudi Tourism Authority signed an agreement in May setting out areas to develop and expand tourism.

VisitBritain recently rolled out a new campaign in Saudi Arabia called “Starring GREAT Britain” that uses famous locations from films and TV to attract visitors.

Overall, tourism to the UK is forecast to increase this year on 2024 levels with a record 43.4 million visits from all countries, spending £33.7 billion.


Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries
Updated 19 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will launch an iftar program in 61 countries during the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, through religious attaches at the Kingdom’s embassies abroad, is implementing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Iftar (breaking of the fast) this year.

The program aims to provide iftar to more than 1 million people, the SPA reported.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of global aid and their efforts to serve Islam and Muslims, especially during Ramadan.

He added that the ministry, in coordination with religious attaches and cultural centers, has disbursed the necessary funds for the Ramadan iftar program.