International students in Windsor are creating an app using AI to detect skin cancer
From India to Sudan, students at University of Windsor are shaping the city's future
International students at the University of Windsor (UWindsor) are working on an app that could revolutionize skin cancer detection.
App users can upload images of areas on their skin they are worried about and AI technology can identify whether the problem area is melanoma.
Ifran Andleeb came from India and has been in Canada for eight months as a master's student in electrical and computer engineering.
"We are done with the theoretical researching part [and we] are trying to deploy our model in a web app so that everyone in the country can use the app — it will be on your fingertips," Andleeb explained to CBC News. "Even though this research was medically based, we did not have any medical background, so we had to go through some resources so that we totally understand."
Almiqdad Elzein, who is from Sudan, is also a master's student in electrical and computer engineering. He has been working in AI for four years and explained how the app's efficiency in identifying skin cancer will set it apart from more conventional — and slower — methods.
"Right now, most skin cancer detection is done through biopsies," Elzein said. "There are works in the artificial intelligence community that are currently attempting to apply machine learning and artificial intelligence to skin cancer detection, but it has not yet gone mainstream — you would not find this in regular hospitals. It's work in progress."
Doing it on an a periodic basis allows for an earlier detection if such condition exists- Almiqdad Elzein
But how does AI work in the context of a medical app?
"[If] we imagine that we analyzed pictures of different skin conditions and we teach a model, through millions or hundreds of thousands of samples, how to differentiate between skin cancer, melanoma, and specific versus other more benign skin conditions," Elzein said.
"Firstly, the, detection is done in noninvasive way, in contrast to biopsies, which is quite invasive. Secondly, it, does not require a lot of advanced medical technology, which may not be available in all areas. Thirdly, it is a way to mainstream detection," he said.
"Doing it on an a periodic basis allows for an earlier detection if such condition exists."
A fellow master's student from India, Vaibhav Patel, said this technology will become more vital as temperatures continue to rise.
"That's what we learned about while researching this particular topic," Patel said. "It's going to be more and more dangerous going forward, so making it accessible for everyone, and enabling everyone to have routine checks themselves can really reduce the mortality rate."
Being from another place
While international students do experience hardships that can come from moving from their country of origin, they can flourish at institutions such as UWindsor.
Andleeb remarked that apart from the hard work she's been putting into research, it can be challenging being an international student.
"You also have your own research going on, because this research is an outcome of a course," she said. "And being an international student, you have a lot going at home."
Despite being far from Sudan, Elzein said the opportunities in Windsor allow for him to pursue his passions.
"Certainly, the research facilities in Canada are more advanced, which allows for the fast tracking of the research, in addition to the expertise that exists at the university."
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With files from Amy Dodge