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
1 / 2
Special How a cutting-edge AI model developed in Saudi Arabia is reshaping medical diagnostics
2 / 2
Short Url
Updated 22 August 2024
Follow

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.

Opinion

This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field)

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.
 

 


Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month

Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month
Updated 14 November 2024
Follow

Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month

Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month
  • The organization, which nurtures the talents of gifted students, says event is a ‘global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future’
  • It is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries

RIYADH: Mawhiba, an organization that works to nurture the talents of gifted students in scientific fields, will hold its third international conference this month with the theme “Beyond Creative Minds.”

Its Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity will take place from Nov. 24 to 26 at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. Khalid Al-Sharif, the organization’s acting secretary-general, described the event as a “global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future through the exchange of ideas and expertise.”

He told the Saudi Press Agency: “The event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting and empowering talent and promoting a culture of innovation to address future global challenges.”

The conference is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries, many of whom will give keynote speeches, take part in panel discussions and lead workshops.

Al-Sharif said the event will include a “‘creathon’ aimed at finding creative solutions to contemporary challenges. Attendees will also have access to exhibitions and various cultural visits scheduled alongside the conference.”

He added that Mawhiba, more formally known as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, will continue to develop talent, support creativity and provide resources to nurture the potential of gifted individuals. He thanked Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan for the substantial support he provides for the biennial conference.


Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation

Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation
Updated 14 November 2024
Follow

Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation

Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation
  • Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Rachida Dati discussed cultural exchanges and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and his French counterpart, Rachida Dati, held talks in Paris on Wednesday on cultural cooperation.

They discussed cultural exchanges between their countries and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production.

Riyadh and Paris are looking to strengthen partnerships, nurture talent through training programs for workers in cultural sectors, and exchange expertise, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Kingdom’s assistant culture minister, Rakan Al-Touq, also took part in the meeting.


Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy

Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy
Updated 13 November 2024
Follow

Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy

Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy

Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom Saimir Bala in Riyadh on Wednesday.

They discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko in Dammam on Wednesday.

Prince Saud welcomed the ambassador to the Eastern Province. During the meeting, the two exchanged friendly talks and discussed a number of topics.
 


Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future

Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future
Updated 13 November 2024
Follow

Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future

Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future
  • The Kingdom and MENA region represent an emerging market for organic food, says organizing official

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is among the Gulf Cooperation Council nations taking significant steps to invest in developing its organic food and beverage sector, which has experienced a growth surge in recent years.

The three-day Biofach Saudi Arabia, which was held alongside Saudi Organic Food Day and concluded on Wednesday, is a key platform showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its agricultural future.

Biofach was organized by 1st Arabia Tradeshows and Conferences in collaboration with NurnbergMesse, with support from the Saudi Ministry for Energy, Water and Agriculture and the Saudi Organic Farming Association.

Christian Beyer, manager of international events at NurnbergMesse, highlighted the potential of the Middle East and North Africa region: “The MENA region, especially Saudi Arabia, represents an emerging market for organic food that was estimated at USD 7 billion in 2022 and can expect ongoing growth.”

Recognizing the importance of organic farming for food security and environmental sustainability, Saudi authorities are focusing on enhancing rural production and improving supply chains to ensure organic products reach consumers efficiently.

The exhibition’s knowledge-exchange platform addressed local challenges, including effective water and fertilizer management, which are crucial for the region’s arid climate.

Among the exhibitors was the Saudi company Aamal Al-Andalus, which provides organic fertilizers to address soil degradation and declining fertility. Their products are said to help treat and reduce environmental stress, increase agricultural production, and improve the quality of crops to enhance export opportunities.

Youssif Abdulqader, sales manager and engineer at Aamal Al-Andalus, told Arab News: “Food around the world is increasingly going organic, particularly when all inputs in the plants come from organic and safe sources.”

He noted that this shift is largely driven by the health issues linked to consuming fruits and vegetables produced through conventional farming methods, which are often less beneficial or even harmful to human well-being.

Abdulqader explained: “Conventional farming practices are generally well-structured and effective; however, they face challenges such as the excessive use of pesticides and their persistence in the soil.”

Farmers often encounter bacterial issues within their crops that need to be addressed cost-effectively to maximize profitability.

“This is where organic alternatives can be prohibitively expensive, prompting conventional farmers to seek cheaper, often internationally banned options,” he added.

He added that the use of pesticides results in chemical residues that can remain in the plant’s environment.

These residues pose significant health risks when consumers ingest vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes.

“There is a concern that these chemicals may contain heavy metals that the human body cannot process, leading to serious health issues such as cancer, kidney failure, and liver diseases, which are frequently associated with traditional farming practices,” he explained.


Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum

Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum
Updated 13 November 2024
Follow

Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum

Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum
  • More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views

RIYADH: The imam and khatib of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Baijan, took part in a peace conference themed “Islam is the Religion of Humanity and Peace” during his recent visit to India

More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

As guest of honor, Al-Baijan delivered a speech in which he said that Islam was a religion of security and peace. He warned against divisions among Muslims and said that such discord threatened national unity, led to chaos and could incite wars.

Minister for Wakf and Haj in the government of Kerala Shri. V. Abdurahiman also spoke at the event, praising Saudi Arabia for its efforts in promoting Islam, peace and moderation.

Al-Baijan also joined the 35th All India Ahle Hadith Conference in New Delhi, where he commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts, led by its leadership, to promote security, peace, stability and the safeguarding of human dignity globally.