TraCS Partner News: Exploring deep learning AI for cancer treatment

Winners of a pilot grant, researchers are exploring how an AI neural network can match medication to patients' DNA—a precision medicine approach for a future of harnessing data for personalized and cost-effective cancer care.

Researchers at NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill are exploring how to potentially use AI to match anti-cancer drugs to a patient's specific DNA. Their research takes a precision medicine approach by using data-centered tools and methods to optimize treatment by tailoring it to a patient's specific health conditions and needs.

The proposed AI model demonstrates the potential to predict how different types of cancer would respond to experimental drug compounds. This way, the most promising anti-cancer drugs would be identified early in the development process, reducing unnecessary experimental costs and time and accelerating the development of new treatments.

Leading the preliminary research is Zhishan Guo, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, and Ning Sui, a molecular biochemist and assistant professor in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry. The team is also collaborating with Dr. Young E. Whang, an associate professor of medicine and pathology and urology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The research project was supported by a pilot grant award from NC TraCS.

Read more about this project at news.ncsu.edu.