How a cutting-edge AI model developed in Saudi Arabia is reshaping medical diagnostics

Special How a cutting-edge AI model developed in Saudi Arabia is reshaping medical diagnostics
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Special How a cutting-edge AI model developed in Saudi Arabia is reshaping medical diagnostics
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Updated 22 August 2024
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How a cutting-edge AI model developed in Saudi Arabia is reshaping medical diagnostics

How a cutting-edge AI model developed in Saudi Arabia is reshaping medical diagnostics
  • MiniGPT-Med is transforming diagnostics by enhancing accuracy and efficiency in disease detection
  • Developed by KAUST and SDAIA, it leverages advanced vision-interfaced technology to interpret medical scans

RIYADH: Artificial intelligence in healthcare is revolutionizing medical diagnostics, from streamlining patient care to enhancing the speed and accuracy of disease detection.

Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of this revolution with the development of an innovative AI model called MiniGPT-Med, which promises to reshape how medical professionals approach diagnostics.

With the ability to analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns that might be missed by the human eye, AI is fast becoming an indispensable healthcare tool.

Whether detecting early signs of diseases, interpreting medical scans or helping plan treatment, AI’s role in medicine is expanding rapidly, reducing costs and improving patient outcomes.

Enter MiniGPT-Med, a cutting-edge, vision-interfaced AI model developed in Saudi Arabia by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Launched in July, this advanced tool is designed to enhance the accuracy of medical diagnostics by integrating image analysis with textual clinical data, significantly improving the detection of conditions such as pneumonia, edema, brain tumors and lung cancer.

“MiniGPT-Med aids doctors by improving diagnostic accuracy through integrated processing of both image and textual clinical data,” Mohamed Elhoseiny, assistant professor of computer science at the Visual Computing Center at KAUST, told Arab News.

“It can be thought of as giving a large language model medical eyesight by carefully integrating vision into the language model and preparing the necessary data to learn these skills, including the localization of issues in medical images.”

MiniGPT-Med builds on the existing architecture of large language models — or LLMs — like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which have already demonstrated exceptional medical knowledge.

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One of the key features that sets MiniGPT-Med apart from other AI models is its ability to localize abnormalities within medical images.

Doctors interact with it using simple, predefined queries such as “Could you describe the contents of this image for me?” or “Where is the abnormality?”

The AI then provides immediate, accurate results, such as identifying pneumonia in a chest X-ray or pinpointing the exact region of a brain tumor in an MRI scan.

In initial trials, it has already surpassed the accuracy of previous models by as much as 19 percent.

Trained on diverse medical datasets, MiniGPT-Med leverages millions of cases to back up its diagnoses, drawing reasoned conclusions by comparing images to similar cases in its database.

DID YOUKNOW?

• MiniGPT-Med enhances diagnostic accuracy by integrating image analysis with clinical data.

The AI model identifies diseases such as pneumonia, edema, brain tumors, and lung cancer.

• It localizes abnormalities in medical images, helping doctors to make precise diagnoses.

• Developed by KAUST and SDAIA, it is part of Saudi Arabia’s drive to lead in AI healthcare.

The model sources its information from five comprehensive medical datasets, including MIMIC-CXR (chest X-ray images and reports), NLST (low-dose CT scans for lung cancer detection), SLAKE (radiology images), RSNA (pneumonia detection), and RadVQA (radiology images).

Despite its accuracy, Elhoseiny is keen to emphasize that MiniGPT-Med is designed to complement, not replace, healthcare professionals.

“The new diagnostics method introduced by models like MiniGPT-Med aims to assist, not replace, physicians and radiologists, enabling them to do more with less,” he said.

Instead, by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, the AI tool is intended to help doctors deliver better care, especially in under-resourced areas.

Looking to the future, the development team at KAUST and SDAIA plans to incorporate more diverse datasets, improve the model’s understanding of complex medical terminology, and enhance its reliability.

Extensive clinical validation studies are also planned to ensure that MiniGPT-Med is safe and effective in real world healthcare environments.

The collaboration between KAUST and SDAIA represents a significant step forward in the application of AI in healthcare.

Elhoseiny says the partnership is aligned with the broader goals of the new GenAI Center of Excellence at KAUST, where further innovations in AI are expected to emerge.

With technologies like MiniGPT-Med, Saudi Arabia is not only advancing its healthcare capabilities but also positioning itself as a leader in the global AI landscape.

As these technologies continue to evolve, they hold the promise of transforming healthcare practices worldwide, offering hope for more accurate diagnoses and better patient outcomes.
 

 


Saudi aid continues to reach thousands in Gaza, Lebanon

Saudi aid continues to reach thousands in Gaza, Lebanon
Updated 09 November 2024
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Saudi aid continues to reach thousands in Gaza, Lebanon

Saudi aid continues to reach thousands in Gaza, Lebanon
  • The relief effort is being conducted in cooperation with the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage
  • Saudi aid is crucial to supporting families as they confront daily hardships and critical shortages

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief is continuing to provide essential food baskets to families in northern Gaza, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
The relief effort is being conducted in cooperation with the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage as part of a campaign initiated under the directives of the Saudi leadership.
The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza remains dire, exacerbated by ongoing hostilities and border closures. Saudi aid is crucial to supporting families as they confront daily hardships and critical shortages.
Meanwhile, the 21st aid plane sent from Riyadh to Lebanon arrived at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Saturday, carrying food, shelter and medical supplies.
The aid, handled by KSrelief, will be used to assist the growing number of people displaced by Israeli airstrikes. The UAE, Turkiye, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Canada, Romania and France are also sending aid to Lebanon.
Since its inception in 2015, KSrelief has implemented more than 3,100 projects worth more than $7.1 billion in 104 countries, in cooperation with local, regional and international partners.


Saudi defense ministry to host leadership forum for non-commissioned officers

Saudi defense ministry to host leadership forum for non-commissioned officers
Updated 09 November 2024
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Saudi defense ministry to host leadership forum for non-commissioned officers

Saudi defense ministry to host leadership forum for non-commissioned officers
  • Participants will include officers from the ministry, other military branches and allied nations

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Defense will host an international leadership forum for non-commissioned officers in Riyadh later this month, Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Taking place with the support of Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman from Nov. 18-19 under the theme “Development and Empowerment,” the event will “underscore the role played by non-commissioned officers and promote shared practices in leadership empowerment,” SPA said.

Non-commissioned officers, or NCOs, are military personnel who have risen through the ranks and look after the day-to-day management of military operations, supervise enlisted soldiers and assist commissioned officers.

The forum will also look to facilitate the exchange of leadership experiences and success stories with military counterparts both within and outside the Kingdom.

Organized by NCOs from the Ministry of Defense and overseen by the Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, the forum will feature dialogue sessions focused on topics such as enhancing leadership competency and empowering women within the ministry.

Participants will include officers from the ministry, other military branches and allied nations.

The event will also feature lectures and an exhibition will run alongside the forum, spotlighting the ministry’s development program for leadership roles of non-commissioned officers, as well as highlighting its I’tizaz and Together programs.


Prince Turki discusses Middle East stability at Harvard

Prince Turki discusses Middle East stability at Harvard
Updated 09 November 2024
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Prince Turki discusses Middle East stability at Harvard

Prince Turki discusses Middle East stability at Harvard

RIYADH: Prince Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, recently visited Harvard University.

Invited by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School, the prince spoke about Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in the Middle East and its efforts to reduce conflicts and promote regional stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

He also spoke to members of the faculty about matters related to research and international relations and addressed members of the Harvard Club of Saudi Arabia, including its president, Abdullah Al-Dosari.

Prince Turki emphasized the importance of the club’s role in supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative through academic and social programs.


Ancient Kingdoms Festival honors history in AlUla and beyond

Ancient Kingdoms Festival honors history in AlUla and beyond
Updated 09 November 2024
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Ancient Kingdoms Festival honors history in AlUla and beyond

Ancient Kingdoms Festival honors history in AlUla and beyond
  • Artifacts from Vesuvius eruption on show for first time in Kingdom

RIYADH: The Ancient Kingdoms Festival, being held in AlUla until Nov. 30, is celebrating the rich history of the ancient civilizations that once thrived in the region.

The festival combines heritage and culture through a variety of events, including daytime activities, exploratory tours, and night excursions inspired by ancient stories, all guided by specialized teams, Saudi Press Agency reported.

A highlight is an exhibition from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, “Masterpieces of the MANN,” hosted at the Maraya cultural venue.

For the first time in Saudi Arabia, visitors can explore the legacy of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 through artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Roman cities buried under volcanic ash.

Pieces from the renowned Farnese Collection housing ancient Greek and Roman art are also on show.

Other unique experiences include the “Hegra After Dark” event at Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, drone shows, and the Hegra Candlelit Classics series of concerts.

Visitors can also join the “Quest for the Ancient Kingdoms” tour in Wadi Al-Naam, or Valley of the Ostriches, known for its dramatic rock formations.

“The Incense Road Experience” in AlUla’s Old Town offers an immersive journey through narrow alleys lined with traditional mud-brick buildings.

The experience blends live performances and modern technology to tell interactive stories, unveiling archaeological treasures in a captivating mix of past and present.

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples recently joined the commission’s network of cultural partners, aligning with heritage and educational institutions from the UK, France, China, and Italy to collaborate on preserving, studying, and celebrating AlUla’s 20,000-year-old heritage.

Established in 1777, the museum is a prominent landmark in one of Italy’s heritage capitals.

It houses some of Europe’s most treasured cultural artefacts, including exceptionally well-preserved Roman and Greek statues, bronze pieces, mosaics, and other artworks.


‘Craftsman Bus’ to promote traditional arts across Kingdom

‘Craftsman Bus’ to promote traditional arts across Kingdom
Updated 09 November 2024
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‘Craftsman Bus’ to promote traditional arts across Kingdom

‘Craftsman Bus’ to promote traditional arts across Kingdom

RIYADH: A platform on wheels has been rolled out to celebrate and promote traditional arts through a tour across the Kingdom’s regions.

The “Craftsman Bus,” an initiative of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, will run until Nov. 23, offering cultural and creative experiences with live performances, interactive activities, parades, creative workshops and community art showcases.

Each weekend, the bus stops at King Faisal Park (Education Park) in Hafr Al-Batin governorate, the historic market in Dumat Al-Jandal governorate, and concludes its journey at the heritage village in Jazan.

The event features live demonstrations by skilled local craftsmen, showcasing traditional arts such as Sadu weaving, hand embroidery, wickerwork, leather tanning, incense making, stone carving and metal crafting to create ornaments and jewelry with a traditional flair.

It offers visitors the opportunity to learn traditional crafts and unleash their creativity through interactive artistic workshops.

The bus travels to selected locations, showcasing performances that highlight the unique cultural heritage of each region.

The journey begins with Samri art in Hafar Al-Batin governorate, continues with Dahha art in Dumat Al-Jandal governorate and concludes with the vibrant Azzawi art in Jazan, bringing traditional performing arts closer to communities.

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts is a pioneering institution dedicated to showcasing Saudi Arabia’s national identity and elevating traditional arts on both the local and global stages.

Its mission is to preserve the heritage of these arts, celebrate living treasures and pioneers, and recognize distinguished individuals in the field.

By supporting national talent and encouraging the mastery and development of traditional crafts, the institute is ensuring that the rich legacy of Saudi Arabia’s creative arts remains vibrant, innovative and celebrated for generations to come.