Microsoft Partners with Medical Institutions to Advance AI in Imaging

Microsoft Corp. has announced collaborations with renowned academic medical systems, Mass General Brigham, and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, along with its partnering health system, UW Health. This initiative aims to address significant challenges in radiology and further advance AI in medical imaging, enhancing clinician efficiency and improving patient outcomes.

Advancing Medical Imaging with AI

Medical imaging is crucial in healthcare, with health systems spending approximately $65 billion annually on imaging. Around 80% of all hospital and health system visits include at least one imaging exam related to over 23,000 conditions. The healthcare industry faces challenges such as physician burnout and staffing shortages. Generative AI can help reduce workloads, enhance workflow efficiencies, and improve the accuracy and consistency of medical image analysis for various applications, including clinical trials and drug discovery. Additionally, generative AI in radiology may reduce wait times for imaging results, improving patient experiences and access to care.

Collaborative Research and Innovation

Through these collaborations, Microsoft and its partners will explore advanced algorithms and applications that assist radiologists and other clinicians in interpreting medical images, report generation, disease classification, and structured data analysis. The partnerships aim to foster research and innovation by leveraging Microsoft's Azure AI platform and Nuance's suite of radiology applications to deliver a wide array of high-value medical imaging copilot applications.

Development and Validation of AI Models

Researchers and clinicians at Mass General Brigham, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and UW Health will work with Microsoft to advance state-of-the-art multimodal foundation models. These models will be developed, tested, and validated to be deployed into clinical workflows, including via Nuance’s PowerScribe radiology reporting platform and the Nuance Precision Imaging Network. This network offers a single point of access to automate and scale the use of third-party medical imaging AI models for various modalities and specialties.

Expert Opinions

“Generative AI has transformative potential to overcome traditional barriers in AI product development and accelerate the impact of these technologies on clinical care. As healthcare leaders, we need to carefully and responsibly develop and evaluate such tools to ensure high-quality care is in no way compromised,” said Keith J. Dreyer, D.O., Ph.D., Chief Data Science Officer and Chief Imaging Officer at Mass General Brigham.

“Our institutions have a reputation for embracing technical innovations as opportunities to lead the transformation of our field with new scientific discovery and improvement in clinical care,” said Scott Reeder, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and radiologist at UW Health.

Microsoft’s Approach to Responsible AI

Microsoft emphasizes the importance of responsible AI principles in building AI systems. The company supports its customers with AI Customer Commitments, responsible AI tools, and transparency documentation. These efforts aim to ensure the responsible deployment and use of AI in the healthcare ecosystem. You can read more in their 2024 Responsible AI Transparency Report.

Future Prospects

The collaborations with Mass General Brigham, UW, and other industry partners aim to accelerate the development of high-performing foundation models for medical imaging that support the greater healthcare ecosystem. These efforts adhere to Microsoft’s responsible AI principles, ensuring patient privacy and building trust.