Outsight was recently contracted by FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, to help them scope the existing landscape of AI-assisted diagnostics for respiratory illness. The aim of this work was to help FIND identify platforms that could be appropriate for use in the Global South. There are specific challenges in these contexts, different to those in Europe or North America, which is where most of the solutions are developed. For example, different racial backgrounds show up differently on X-rays, and the level of background noise in crowded health structures can be higher. It is essential to test the ability of AI algorithms to cope with these contextual differences. To do so, FIND used context-appropriate datasets from these regions — that might not normally form the foundation of the AI dataset testing — to evaluate performance of these solutions for use in these types of contexts.
The Outsight team identified a long list of 75 digital solutions of interest from around the world. These solutions included a range of signal-input methods, including thorax image capture (X-rays, CT, MRI), auscultation, cough sounds and pulmonary function tests, and captured data with traditional medical devices, as well as smartphones. Of the 75, 25 of these solutions were taken forward to a short list (based on discussions with the FIND team), where detailed information was requested from the companies developing these solutions. This information was assessed and a final list of 11 solutions of particular interest was drawn up.
Moving forward with this work, the hope is that FIND will be able to use the information gathered to help shape their diagnostic strategy in various disease and technology areas.
About Outsight International
Outsight International provides services to the humanitarian and development sector in an efficient and agile way. Outsight International builds on the range of expertise offered by a network of Associates in order to deliver quality results adapted to the specific tasks at hand. If you’d like to discuss working with the Outsight team, please get in touch or follow us on LinkedIn for regular updates.