Overview:
According the Project Principal Investigator Dr. Rose Nakasi, the Ocular Project aims at building a standardized point-of-care mobile microscopy for disease diagnosis with a specificity of up to 99%. The solution’s current focus is on malaria, tuberculosis and cervical cancer in Uganda.
Makerere University has received funding worth $1.5 million (about Shs5.5b) from Google to undertake research on usage of Artificial Intelligence to enhance the diagnosis process of Malaria, Tuberculosis and Cervical Cancer in Uganda.
The research is being undertaken by Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) in collaboration with the Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH).
According the Project Principal Investigator Dr. Rose Nakasi, the Ocular Project aims at building a standardized point-of-care mobile microscopy for disease diagnosis with a specificity of up to 99%. The solution’s current focus is on malaria, tuberculosis and cervical cancer in Uganda.
Speaking at the launch of the project on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, Dr. Nakasi noted that the project team benched on the rampant challenges faced by the laboratory experts while undertaking diagnosis procedures.
“In our interaction with some experts from the health sector, we found out that it was indeed straining for health centres in Uganda to manage the escalating number of patients that seek for laboratory screening tests. In addition, the team noted that the country is also blessed with a few trained laboratory technicians to support the diagnosis process using the microscope,” she said.
“We therefore took advantage of the existing technologies such as the smartphone and the availability of at least a microscope in every health centre across the country to develop a 3D printable adaptor that was attached to an eye piece of the microscope. The 3D adapter was also slotted in the smartphone to capture images. With the capabilities of Artificial intelligence through computer vision, images can be processed and this directs the experts where the pathogens are,” she added.
Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the ICT Ministry Permanent Secretary, who launched the project, commended Makerere University for the grounds and foundation it has given to different generations that have stood tall to support the development process of this country in different capacities.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tonny Oyana, the Principal of CoCIS thanked Google for believing and investing immensely in Makerere University research.
“This is impressive. The funds for research in key areas of human health, using low-cost technology for disease diagnosis is expected to significantly improve health outcomes in Africa. We are immensely proud of the Ocular team at Makerere AI Lab”, he said.
Google.org’s AI for the Global Goals Impact Challenge is part of Google’s company-wide commitment to help accelerate progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.