NIH is Calling for Research into Cancer Image Interpretation, and Augmentiqs is the Most Capable Tool for the Job.

Augmentiqs is looking to collaborate with researchers in what is arguably one of the most fascinating and unexplored areas of pathology.

NIH (link to grant) is interested in funding research into subjects concerning how pathologists work & make decisions, how to utilize augmented reality to improve decisions, understanding problems in image perception, comparing microscope to WSI, etc…..

Specific Research Objectives (per NIH site)

This FOA seeks to better understand the cognitive and perceptual processes underlying the interpretation of medical images, in order to improve the accuracy of cancer detection and diagnosis.

Projects suitable for this FOA will have a focus on underlying cognitive and perceptual mechanisms, rather than descriptive studies. For example, a study demonstrating the relationship between experience and interpretation accuracy would not be appropriate, but a study identifying the visual features acquired by expert observers would be appropriate. In particular, the FOA seeks to encourage research that identifies a critical problem in cancer image perception, studies the underlying perceptual or cognitive mechanisms in a basic laboratory setting, and tests the most promising hypotheses in the applied cancer imaging context.

Collaborate with Augmentiqs

In radiology there have already been a number of studies on this subject, but in pathology this area has been almost totally unexplored. Augmentiqs is the ideal, and possibly only commercial technology for enabling this kind of research with the microscope.

Augmentiqs is capable of tracking all stage activity (XY position, slide label, objective magnification, etc..), presents digital information as augmented reality, and allows for the real time use of artificial intelligence algorithms. 

Why Collaborate with Augmentiqs

Augmentiqs is an electro-optical module that integrates within existing infinity-corrected optical microscopes of any manufacturer or model. Augmentiqs provides for the reproducibility of pathologist activity on the microscope, including the collection, correlation and synchronization of histopathology images with near-precise XYZ position on the slide.

By digital tracking pathologist activity on the microscope, Augmentiqs enables pathologists to find features & regions of interest, create annotations and save locations of search. The Augmentiqs system allows for the automated mapping of the glass slide which can then be synchronized and compared to other digital datasets.

With its ability to track microscope activity, Augmentiqs bridges the gap between traditional microscope-based pathology and Whole Slide Imaging (WSI) within a seamlessly integrated environment designed around the “native” workflow of pathologist & microscope.

Augmentiqs is a combined hardware and software solution that enables multi-directional communication between microscope and PC. The hardware component installed on the existing microscope acts as a platform for digital imaging, digital overlay (augmented reality) and tracking of microscope stage activity.

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Choose Your Topic of Interest

The NIH grant is broad, with many areas of research in which it can be taken. 

Potential Directions

  • Comparing the method of viewing between Whole Slide Imaging and microscope.
  • Comparing how experienced and young pathologists view samples.
  • Comparing the use of AI on a screen to the use of AI as augmented reality in the microscope
  • Correlating time and movement of workflow with diagnostic decisions
Augmentiqs has collaborated with researchers in novel areas of AI, augmented reality and workflow tracking. This is now your opportunity to further our understanding of pathology.
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Connect to learn more about collaboration with Augmentiqs for this incredible funding opportunity!