Artificial intelligence is making increasingly bold moves into the world of medicine. It helps analyse vast amounts of data, supports diagnostics, accelerates the discovery of new drugs and opens up entirely new areas of research. Collaboration among specialists from various scientific fields plays a key role in these processes. This is exactly what the AI4MEDICINE research team is aimed at. It brings together experts in computer science, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, molecular biology, neurology and clinical medicine. As Prof. Włodzisław Duch, the deputy leader of the research team, points out:
Biosciences are extremely complex and no single human brain can actually know a great deal about biosciences. — Prof. Duch
One of AI4MEDICINE research team’s main goals is to develop tools that can shorten and streamline the process of discovering new therapies. Today, developing an effective drug requires an enormous amount of time, effort and financial resources. Artificial intelligence makes it possible to automate data analysis, predict the effectiveness of potential substances and identify new biological relationships. However, for this to be possible, it is necessary to create increasingly advanced IT tools that can support researchers at every stage of the research process.
Research on neurological and neurodegenerative diseases plays a special role in this project. Researchers use artificial intelligence, coupled with electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to analyse human brain activity. By combining medical knowledge with modern machine learning methods, it is possible to study the dynamics of brain activity more accurately and detect subtle changes that may indicate a developing disease.
Another important aspect is the use of physics-informed machine learning – an approach that integrates artificial intelligence models with knowledge of the physical processes occurring in the body. This not only increases the effectiveness of analyses but also provides a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the observed phenomena. Such solutions, among other applications, are used in research on neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors.
A key element of the project is AI Foundry – a research platform focused on developing new generations of artificial intelligence tools for medicine and bioinformatics. Its goal is to develop methods that are not only accurate but also understandable to users. In medicine, the effectiveness of an algorithm alone is not sufficient. Doctors need to know why the system made a particular decision, what are the reasons behind it. That is why one of the most important challenges of the project is the development of so-called explainable and interpretable artificial intelligence.
The AI4MEDICINE research team looks to the future with great optimism and hope. The researchers are convinced that AI has the potential to fundamentally change the way patients are diagnosed and treated. At the same time, they emphasize that implementing new technologies requires time, rigorous verification and close collaboration with clinicians. It is precisely this combination of technological innovation, medical knowledge and a responsible approach to implementation that can make the medicine of the future more precise, effective and accessible to patients.
