Max Kelsen: Using TensorFlow Research Cloud to help Australians living with cancer
About Max Kelsen
Max Kelsen is an analytics and software engineering agency specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
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Contact usUsing TensorFlow Research Cloud, Max Kelsen aims to help improve the survival rate of people with cancer by predicting their response to treatment
Google Cloud Results
- Uses AI and ML to predict how patients will respond to treatment
- Explores new cancer techniques and treatments at scale
- Provides opportunities to address other difficult healthcare issues
Aims to help improve the survival rate of people with cancer
Cancer is one of Australia's greatest health challenges. One in four individuals are diagnosed with cancer during their lives and an estimated 48,000 Australians were expected to die from the disease in 2018 alone1.
When a patient is correctly diagnosed with cancer, the best treatments achieve a 48 percent success rate over three years2. This means millions of dollars are spent on unsuccessful or partially successful cancer treatments.
A better way of diagnosing the most appropriate treatment is needed. Combining whole genome analysis with artificial intelligence (AI) is a key stepping stone towards fully personalized, highly effective treatment plans.
In recent years, immunotherapy has shown great promise in improving the survival chances of patients with cancer, including those suffering from melanoma or lung cancer.
Immunotherapy works by strengthening a patient's immune system to better defend against cancer cells.
However, a single round of immunotherapy treatment can cost over $100,000 and is not guaranteed to be effective for all patients.
"Access to TensorFlow Research Cloud TPUs will radically transform our capability for this project."
—Athon Millane, Machine Learning and Research Lead, Max KelsenWhole genome sequencing can help predict the effectiveness of cancer treatments, at a fraction of this cost. However, researchers are yet to find an effective way to process whole genome sequences. Part of the processing challenge is the sheer size of each whole genome. At 3.2 billion base-pairs per sequence, each whole genome is almost 300GB. The key to predicting patient treatment outcomes lies in finding and interpreting the patterns and genes of significance in the genomes of patients who have responded best to previous treatments.
TensorFlow Research Cloud assists with challenge
Through access to TensorFlow Research Cloud from Google, which incorporates 1,000 Tensor Processing Units designed for machine learning (ML) as well as AI, Max Kelsen is set to address this challenge.
The analytics and software agency aims to use ML and AI to better predict how patients will respond to immunotherapy treatments for cancer.
Google is committed to this leading global research initiative, and the collaboration with Max Kelsen is testament to the quality of research and talent coming out of Australia.
"Access to TensorFlow Research Cloud TPUs will radically transform our capability for this project," says Athon Millane, Machine Learning and Research Lead at Max Kelsen. "Although we have a small team, we are already delivering world-class results. This collaboration with Google provides the ability to explore new techniques and experiments at unprecedented scale."
Analysts predict that by 2025, the volume of genomics data will be 20 times greater than the amount of data on YouTube3. Compute power provided by the TensorFlow Research Cloud helps researchers leverage this massive influx of data to deliver machine-learning powered advances in a range of fields.
"This collaboration with Google provides the ability to explore new techniques and experiments at unprecedented scale."
—Athon Millane, Machine Learning and Research Lead, Max KelsenImmunotherapy Outcome Prediction (IOP)
Immunotherapy Outcome Prediction (IOP) is a project led by Max Kelsen to change the lives of millions of cancer patients worldwide. Working alongside genomiQa, QIMR Berghofer, BGI, and QLD Health Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Max Kelsen plans to integrate AI and whole genome sequencing into cancer research and clinical practice.
IOP is focusing initially on immunotherapy treatment for melanoma and small cell lung cancer. Max Kelsen aims to leverage the knowledge gained through this project to make a difference to Australians affected by cancer and to take on more healthcare challenges.
Under IOP, BGI will apply DNA sequencing to provide genome data for analysis by genomiQa, a specialist in whole genome sequencing techniques. Max Kelsen will apply AI and ML through the TensorFlow Research Cloud to the analyzed data to better predict patient responses to cancer treatments such as immunotherapy.
The combination of Max Kelsen's expertise in analytics and software engineering with the skills and knowledge of researchers at genomiQa, QIMR, and BGI, and Google compute and ML services, will drive cancer research forward.
"Immunotherapy Outcome Prediction is testament to the leading approach and high level of technical expertise involved in the collaboration between the organizations involved."
—Cameron Bean, Health Lead and Commercialization Lead, Max KelsenIOP aims to develop a prediction model that will indicate the likely effectiveness of cancer treatments such as immunotherapy based on each patient's genetic makeup. If successful, the project could help extend patients' lives, increase their quality of life, and eliminate millions of dollars spent on successful treatment costs.
IOP delivers leading approach
"Immunotherapy Outcome Prediction is testament to the leading approach and high level of technical expertise involved in the collaboration between the organizations involved," says Cameron Bean, Director of Health Research at Max Kelsen.
Applying ML and AI solutions across industries is what Max Kelsen specializes in, and personalized healthcare is next.
"Immunotherapy Outcome Prediction will firmly establish the role of AI and whole genome analysis in the future of precision medicine and personalized healthcare," says Nicholas Therkelsen-Terry, Chief Executive Officer of Max Kelsen.
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About Max Kelsen
Max Kelsen is an analytics and software engineering agency specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence.