Digital Diagnostics at the Point-of-Care
Subgroup leadProject descriptions
Ongoing projects
In the following years clinical studies regarding cancer and infectious diseases will be carried out and within these the diagnostic accuracy is evaluated in comparison with conventional diagnostics, as well as time consumption, technical feasibility, cost per test, and acceptance of the method in a point-of-care setting.
1. Validation study on screening for cervical cancer.
We currently scale up the use of the new diagnostic method in the form of a validation study in Kenya and Tanzania with the aim of detecting cervical atypia for the purpose of cervical cancer screening/prevention. During 2022-2023 a total of 1,500 patient´s cervical smears will be collected and digitized for the detection of premalignant cells using a deep learning-based AI algorithm. In 2023-24 the method's diagnostic accuracy, technical feasibility, cost and time per test, and acceptance of the AI method is evaluated and compared to conventional diagnostics. This study is initiated in 2022 and completed 2023.
2. A field trial on fever diagnostics at the point-of-care.
In this trial, the diagnostic performance of the AI-based method developed to detect malaria (P. falciparum) is compared to diagnostics using conventional microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests. Patients (n=800) attending a primary health care facility in Yombo village in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania and at Kinondo Hospital, Kenya will be recruited. This study is initiated in 2023 and completed 2024.
3. A surveillance trial on neglected tropical diseases in school children within a control program.
We will evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and cost effectiveness of the method as compared with conventional microscopy for Neglected Tropical Diseases control (soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni) after wide scale use of mass drug administration (Albendazole) in a school based anti-helminthic control program in Kwale County, Kenya and in the Mwanza Region, Tanzania. Stool samples will be collected from children attending primary schools in the region (n =1,500 children). This study will be conducted in 2022-2024.
Collaborators
Nina Linder, UU and University of Helsinki
Andreas Mårtensson, UU
Johan Lundin, KI, and University of Helsinki
Billy Ngasala, MUHAS (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences) and UU
Lwidiko E. Mhamilawa, MUHAS and UU
Mary Inziani Matilu, KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute)
Funding
Swedish Research Council, The Erling-Persson Foundation, InDevelop
Responsible researcher(s)/contact persons
Nina Linder, nina.linder@kbh.uu.se
Andreas Mårtensson, andreas.martensson@kbh.uu.se