Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer‑related death in Canada. While current screening programs have improved early detection, they still rely on a uniform and intensive protocol that requires frequent tests and prolonged follow‑up.
Improving Lung Cancer Screening
For many patients, this extended surveillance leads to cumulative radiation exposure and, in some cases, unnecessary invasive procedures, even though cancer may not develop for many years. This approach also places a substantial burden on the healthcare system while providing limited immediate clinical benefit.
An Artificial Intelligence–Based Approach
To address these limitations, researcher Rasika Rajapakshe at BC Cancer, is developing an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to perform in‑depth analysis of lung images collected through screening programs. Rather than assessing each imaging exam in isolation, the system identifies subtle features and tracks changes over time, including potential precancerous lesions, to estimate an individual’s risk of developing lung cancer in the years ahead.
By analyzing large volumes of data, AI will help distinguish low‑risk patients, for whom screening can be safely spaced out, from those requiring closer monitoring and more precise follow‑up of detected abnormalities. This approach will enable an individualized care pathway, limiting unnecessary examinations and interventions, reducing radiation exposure, and optimizing the use of healthcare system resources. In the long term, this model could transform screening by supporting more precise and personalized clinical decisions.
It is imperative that Canada develop its own AI systems, particularly for healthcare applications, to protect patient rights, ensure ethical AI deployment, and especially maintain sovereignty over critical health data. The funding provided through this grant from Cancer Research Society enables this worthwhile endeavor for social good. A domestically driven AI ecosystem will not only enhance patient care and medical research but also establish Canada as a global leader in responsible, humancentric AI for healthcare.
Your impact
This project illustrates how artificial intelligence can make lung cancer screening more equitable, more patient‑centred, and more sustainable. By supporting this research, the Cancer Research Society and its donors enable the development of tools that offer patients safer, more tailored follow‑up. At the same time, healthcare system resources are used more efficiently, and Canadian research positions itself at the forefront of responsible innovation in artificial intelligence applied to health.
Project Title: Artificial Intelligence solution to personalize lung cancer screening intervals
British Columbia
2025-2028,
$500,000
Partner
