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Pancreatic cancer has always been a silent killer, often detected too late for effective treatment. But a breakthrough AI system might change everything about how we fight this disease.
Microsoft and collaborating researchers have developed a deep learning model that can detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma up to THREE YEARS before clinical diagnosis using standard non-contrast abdominal CT scans.
🔍 Why this matters:
• Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with a 5-year survival rate of just 12%
• Early detection is extremely challenging with current methods
• Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited
🧠 The technical breakthrough:
The AI model achieved an AUROC (a measure of accuracy) above 0.92 in preprint studies, demonstrating robust performance across multiple patient cohorts. What makes this truly revolutionary is that it works with ROUTINE CT scans that millions of patients already get for other reasons, requiring no special protocols or additional testing.
🏥 Real-world implications for healthcare providers:
• Opportunity to identify high-risk patients years earlier
• Potential to significantly improve survival rates through earlier intervention
• Could be integrated into existing radiology workflows with minimal disruption
Clinical trials are scheduled to begin in the U.S. and Europe before the end of 2025, with Microsoft planning to release a research API this fall.
For imaging centers and hospitals, this represents a prime example of how AI can transform detection capabilities without requiring new equipment investments, potentially saving more lives while working within existing infrastructure.
Could tools like this finally change pancreatic cancer from a death sentence to a manageable condition? I believe we’re getting closer.
What AI detection breakthroughs are you most interested in seeing in radiology and diagnostics?
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Author:
CEO/Co-Founder @ Oatmeal Health | AI Lung Cancer Screening | Almost Became a Doctor | Engineer | Follow to Share What I’ve Learned Along the Way
I help patients get the care they need earlier, preventing late-stage cancer.
That’s been the throughline across three companies and almost 20 years in healthcare. At ReferralMD, we fixed broken referral networks so patients didn’t fall through the cracks. At Oatmeal Health, it’s lung cancer: building the diagnostic and screening infrastructure so the 85% of cases caught too late get caught early instead.
Today as CEO of Oatmeal Health, I lead a team embedding AI into radiology workflows to turn routine lung CT scans into reimbursable cancer risk assessments. We partner with FQHCs to reach underserved communities, and with health systems and payers to make early detection economically sustainable. Think HeartFlow or Cleerly, but for lungs.
Between companies, I advised at Techstars and Plug and Play, mentoring founders building in digital health. That experience shaped how I think about what separates companies that ship from companies that stall: distribution, reimbursement, and clinical trust, not just technology.
I’m a CancerX alumnus, a 3x healthcare founder, and someone who believes the biggest problems in cancer aren’t scientific. They’re operational.
We’re hiring mission-driven builders at Oatmeal Health. If you want to work on something that matters, reach out.
When I’m not working, I’m traveling, mentoring, and keeping up with one very energetic husky. 🐾
Substack – The Oatmeal Bite:
Millions of patients get less care because of who they are, where they live, or how they look. I’m fighting to change that. CEO @OatmealHealth, a startup built for the underserved. The Oatmeal Bite: intel for clinicians, investors, and advocates.
Jonathan Govette
CEO of Oatmeal Health
Substack:
https://oatmealhealthjonathangovette.substack.com/
