New AI platform accelerates cancer research
Researchers hope the technology will improve treatment selection and help explain why some cancers resist therapy.
A new AI tool developed by Microsoft Research enables scientists to study the environment surrounding tumours on a far wider scale than previously possible.
The platform, called GigaTIME, uses multimodal modelling to analyse routine pathology slides and generate detailed digital maps showing how immune cells interact with cancerous tissue.
Traditional approaches require costly laboratory tests and days of work to produce similar maps, whereas GigaTIME performs the analysis in seconds. The system simulates dozens of protein interactions simultaneously, revealing patterns that were previously difficult or impossible to detect.
By examining tens of thousands of scenarios at once, researchers can better understand tumour behaviour and identify which treatments might offer the greatest benefit. The technology may also clarify why some patients resist therapy and aid the development of new treatment strategies.
GigaTIME is available as an open-source research tool and draws on data from more than 14,000 patients across dozens of hospitals and clinics. The project, developed with Providence and the University of Washington, aims to accelerate cancer research and cut costs.
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