The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has awarded the SPLEEN-US project $745,000 to enhance AI-driven biomedical research.
This funding, part of the MLSC's Bits to Bytes program, aims to develop an extensive open dataset of over 2,000 video scans of spleens, including critical demographic and health-related metadata. The dataset will enable AI algorithms to identify spleen locations on ultrasound images, addressing the challenges posed by the organ's soft texture and location within the body.
Aligned with UMass Boston’s mission to foster collaborative biomedical research, the SPLEEN-US initiative builds on previous successes, particularly the OMAMA-DB project focused on breast cancer. This new dataset is expected to support innovative neuromodulation therapies by enabling targeted treatment for chronic inflammatory conditions through a wearable medical device being developed by industry partner INIA Biosciences.
The project also emphasizes workforce development, with connections facilitated by UMass Boston's Venture Development Center. This initiative not only aims to produce valuable research but also to train the next generation of data scientists in the life sciences sector. Associate Professor Haehn, who leads the project, has a track record of securing substantial research funding, further underscoring the initiative's potential impact on biomedical innovation.