Artificial Intelligence in the fight against Cancer: RWTH Aachen University Hospital receives 1.2 Million Euros in funding for DECIPHER-M

Together with partners from Dresden, Essen, Heidelberg, Mainz, and Munich, the project explores the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the treatment of cancer. The goal is to identify new approaches for improving the treatment of cancer and to sustainably enhance treatment options. The project is initially funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for three years.

Starting on March 1, 2025, leading experts from the fields of medicine, computer science, and biotechnology will collaborate to decode mechanisms of cancer metastasis using AI. The formation of cancer metastases is influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are often difficult to identify. To facilitate identification, DECIPHER-M uses an AI model that integrates various data sources, such as X-rays, MRI scans, and genetic data. This enables more accurate diagnoses, the initiation of preventive measures, and the optimization of treatment options for cancer patients.

At the Aachen site, the laboratory for AI in medicine at the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, as well as the Schneider Lab at the Department of Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases, and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, are involved in several sub-projects. The research groups of Prof. Truhn and Prof. Schneider are taking on key roles in the methodological development and clinical application of AI-supported techniques. These include the development and training of vision transformers and language models, the development of innovative explainability measures and methods for causal discovery, as well as computer-assisted analyses, model calibration, and risk models.

You can find more information on DECIPHER-M as well as other third-party funded project under Funding.