Indian AI Cancer Platform iOncology.ai Shines at BRICS Summit
iOncology.ai, an Indian AI platform for cancer care, gains international attention at the BRICS Summit, featured in a special edition of the BRICS Health Journal.
An artificial intelligence platform from India, designed to enhance cancer care, has been spotlighted at the BRICS Summit, featured in the BRICS Health Journal. The platform, known as iOncology.ai, is a collaborative development by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, with backing from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Global Recognition at BRICS Summit
iOncology.ai's inclusion in the journal underscores its potential to transform cancer care in emerging economies. The review, titled “Transforming cancer care in emerging economies: India’s AI innovation,” was authored by Ashok Sharma and colleagues from AIIMS and C-DAC. It discusses the role of AI in bolstering cancer screening, early diagnosis, and access to specialized care.
Dr. Ashok Sharma emphasized India's opportunity to use iOncology.ai to bridge cancer-care disparities across the Global South. He highlighted the importance of BRICS collaboration in advancing cancer prevention and treatment through evidence-based solutions tailored to the needs of developing countries.
Platform Features and Development
iOncology.ai is designed to integrate clinical data related to cancer, aiding in early detection, risk stratification, treatment planning, and patient-data management. The platform utilizes curated Indian datasets, including clinical, radiological, and histopathological data, with plans to incorporate genetic data and electronic health-record systems.
Currently, iOncology.ai is in the pilot stage of clinical validation and implementation evaluation. It is being assessed in research mode, with no peer-reviewed evidence yet confirming its diagnostic accuracy or clinical effectiveness. Comprehensive multicentre validation is necessary before it can be widely adopted in clinical settings.
Addressing Global Cancer Care Challenges
The review in the BRICS Health Journal highlights the challenges faced by BRICS nations, which comprise over 40% of the global population and report around 9 million new cancer cases annually. These countries experience significant disparities in cancer patterns and access to care, making innovations like iOncology.ai crucial.
India’s expanding cancer-control infrastructure, including population screening, cancer surveillance, and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, provides a framework within which iOncology.ai can operate. The platform aims to empower clinicians, enabling smarter and more equitable cancer care, particularly in resource-limited settings.