At the launch ceremony (Photo: laodong.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – VIETRAD,an online platform developed over the last year that uses machine learningtechnology to test, monitor and improve radiologic diagnosis of breast cancer,was launched on November 12.
The VIETRAD project wasdeveloped thanks to the funding of more than 340,000 AUD (245,700 USD) by the AustralianGovernment through its Aus4Innovation programme.
VIETRAD uses a novel image interpretation andtraining approach from Australia, transferred by The University of Sydney.Using high quality mammograms from Vietnam and Australia, expert radiologistsare able to practice reading images and improve their skill. Errors indiagnosis are identified, while machine learning technology helps to targettraining and further improve their capability.
This approach can transformradiologists’ efficacy in breast cancer detection on mammograms from below 50percent today to 85 percent. This improvement is equivalent to that of Australianradiologists using the original platform.
Speaking at the launch event, AustralianAmbassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie said: “Australia is proud to have beenproviding long-standing support to Vietnam in innovation policy and practice.The Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants, which scale up innovative ideas forsocioeconomic development, are supporting so many interesting projects likeVIETRAD.”
In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Health TranVan Thuan noted that VIETRAD platform is the first of its kind in Vietnam. “Nowdoctors and researchers can access to this advance system no matter where theyare and improve their capability to detect breast cancer from readingmammograms,” he said.
The VIETRAD platform will be introduced andimplemented in hospitals in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
VIETRAD is funded by Aus4Innovation PartnershipGrants, an important part of the 11 million AUD, four-year (2018-2022)investment by the Australian Government to help strengthen the Vietnameseinnovation system. Aus4Innovation is co-funded by the Australian Department ofForeign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and InnovationXchange (IXC).
Breast cancer is the most common cancer inVietnamese women, with over 10,000 new cases diagnosed annually. With most patientspresenting in later stages, treatment is more difficult and survival rates arereduced. Early cancer detection depends on accurate interpretation of breastimages by radiologists and this is essential to improving treatment efficacyand patient prognosis. In Vietnam, however, diagnostic efficacy in detectingabnormalities on mammograms is below 50 percent./.
