AI Pathologist for Diverse Medical Diagnosis

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Dr. Nidhal Abdulaziz

Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Dubai, UAE

“As the Principal Investigator, I, Dr. Nidhal Abdulaziz, have extensive expertise in AI and medical imaging to lead the AI Pathologist for Diverse Medical Diagnosis project with enthusiasm. My passion for revolutionizing healthcare drives our mission to deliver accurate diagnostics for Dubai’s diverse population. This project expresses my commitment to advancing precision medicine through innovative AI solutions.”

The AI Pathologist for Diverse Medical Diagnosis project, led by Heriot-Watt University Dubai, aims to transform pathology diagnostics in the UAE by addressing diagnostic error rates (5–15%), slow image analysis, and pathologist shortages (1:20,000 in some emirates). Over 36 months, we will develop an AI system achieving ≥95% diagnostic accuracy for multiple diseases (e.g., cancers, infections) across imaging modalities (WSI, CT, MRI, ultrasound), reducing turnaround times by 50%, ensuring equitable diagnostics for Dubai’s diverse population, and fostering clinician trust via explainable AI (XAI). Leveraging capsule networks for spatial-aware analysis, foundation models like Virchow for data filtering, and XAI techniques like Grad-CAM for transparency, the project integrates with hospital EHRs using HL7 FHIR standards. The multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Nidhal Abdulaziz, Dr. Mohamed Al-Musleh, Dr. Rehan Ahmed, Prof. Farhad Oroumchian, Prof. Sattar Alshryda, Prof. Ahmed Elserafi, a PhD student, and a research assistant, will collect ≥10,000 anonymized images, develop and deploy the AI system in DHA hospitals, train ≥50 pathologists, and publish ≥3 high-impact papers. Aligned with Dubai’s Health Strategy 2021–2026 and UAE Vision 2031, the project mitigates workforce shortages, reduces errors, and positions Dubai as a global AI healthcare hub by mid-2028. Through fairness audits, it promotes equitable healthcare and UN SDG 3, setting new standards in precision medicine with potential applications in radiology and beyond.