AI Advances in Cancer Care Gain Momentum With $10M Funding

Subscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up-to-date with the latest manufacturing news.

In New South Wales, a new $10 million funding initiative is enabling researchers to explore AI’s potential to revolutionize oncology. At the center of this initiative is Dr. Chandrima Sengupta, a researcher at the University of Sydney. Her team is developing an AI-driven system designed to detect and target liver tumors with greater accuracy and fewer side effects.

Dr. Chandrima Sengupta’s project highlights the potential of AI in oncology

Sengupta’s project is one of 18 supported through the Cancer Institute NSW’s latest grants program. Her AI tool integrates imaging data with clinical records to improve how tumors are identified and treated. Unlike static protocols, this system adapts in real time, learning from each patient interaction to guide future treatment decisions.

The grant signals growing recognition of AI’s value in cancer care and reflects a broader shift in how research is conducted. Sengupta’s work bridges medicine, data science, and engineering, representing a model for multidisciplinary innovation.

NSW government backs bold research with $10 million in cancer grants

The $10 million in funding from the Cancer Institute NSW supports a broad range of cancer research initiatives. Each recipient was selected for their project’s potential to address critical gaps in treatment, detection, or prevention.

Projects vary widely, from early detection using genomics to therapies targeting rare cancers. Sengupta’s stands out for its blend of advanced AI modeling and practical applicability to liver cancer, a disease that has seen fewer digital breakthroughs to date. The program encourages collaboration across public and private sectors, strengthening partnerships between hospitals, universities, and industry.

AI’s global trajectory in transforming cancer diagnosis and treatment

Internationally, healthcare systems are also adopting AI to streamline and improve cancer care. In the UK, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was the first in the NHS to use an AI tool for skin cancer screening. Clinicians capture images of moles with an iPhone attachment, and the AI software provides diagnostic assessments in seconds. Known as Derm, the tool is 99.9% accurate at ruling out melanoma and is already informing treatment decisions.

In the US, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health awarded $10 million to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to build a new cancer diagnostics center. The project uses AI to analyze large-scale health data to assist with early detection and treatment planning.

The latest round of NSW cancer research funding signals a shift in Australia’s approach to healthcare innovation. The convergence of data science and clinical research is already reshaping how cancer is understood and treated.

Sources:

• Mirage News
• NSW Government
• The Times