The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) convened a group of experts to advise on AI in health research and translation.
They responded that it is already happening and “the challenges are present and urgent.”
The NHMRC concisely reports discussion results,
where AI can help, including:
- image processing and interpretation for example, breast and skin cancer screening
- machine learning and AI to identity “insights from genomics”
- evaluation of AI use health settings/applications
- diagnostic accuracy and personalised treatment and care in neurology
issues in deploying AI:
- using it as a research tool, not the centrepiece
- need for “robust” evaluation frameworks
- shortage of data scientists in health sector
- *data standards and governance
what research funders can do
- focus on outcomes rather than the technology
- support/incentives for multi-disciplinary teams, including project funding from the ARC, NHMRC and umbrella agency for the MRFF
The group also voiced some scepticism. “Few participants said that while there have been advances in some areas, such as diagnostics and workforce logistics, these have not been seen at all in other parts of healthcare.”
