Invisio AI Scoops 3rd Place at 2020 SAB Foundation Social Innovation & Disability Empowerment Awards

Invisio AI Scoops 3rd Place at 2020 SAB Foundation Social Innovation & Disability Empowerment Awards

Invisio AI, a web-based software and patient application platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to detect breast cancer scooped third place at the 2020 SAB Foundation Social Innovation & Disability Empowerment Awards.

The platform, which was developed by MedSol AI Solutions won a R850 000 cash prize.The startup was founded in August 2020 by CEO and director Kathryn Malherbe (pictured ) who is a radiographer and mammographer with over 15 years clinical experience.

The South African startup has developed a patent pending world-first AI algorithm which uses deep machine learning (DML) to identify, segment and predict breast cancer types by means of ultrasound images and algorithms. Malherbe told Synapse in late March that research and development work for Invisio AI had started at the end of 2019.

“There is a need to decentralise breast cancer diagnosis and treatment so that all women in South Africa can have access to on-site diagnosis, our solutions provides the diagnosis an Day 1 of clinic visit in the rural setting instead of the current standard of 6 months,” said Malherbe.

She explained that within two seconds of uploading an image onto the startup’s system, its unique patent-pending algorithm and ML model provides prediction of breast cancer subtypes without the need for on-site specialists of infrastructure for a histology.

“This means a patient in a rural setting can have a quicker turnaround time to surgical intervention, currently estimated at 4-6 months in SA,” she pointed out.

Malherbe said the platform was being piloted at three main breast radiology practices in South Africa, with its main target market being general practitioners (GPs), rural clinics, and district level hospitals.

“Our software aids in earlier detection of breast cancers, more cost effective detection of breast cancers as well as a reduction in mortality rates. We also promote breast education alongside Breast Cancer Support Pretoria NPO, who serves currently over 179 400 women on their digital platform across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Namibia,” she explained.

At the time of writing, Malherbe said the startup was in initial talks with companies based in Montpellier and Occitanie for its global outreach over the next few years.

Commenting on placing third at the 2020 SAB Foundation Social Innovation & Disability Empowerment Awards, Malherbe described winning the accolade as “greatest and most honourable achievement for our company to date”.

“To have a prestigious group such as SAB, not only see our innovation but our social impact is very encouraging for us. The funding is opening so many doors for us, we can develop our current MVP in pilot testing to a fully fledged app as well as start our branding and marketing strategy for our proposed product launch in October 2021,” she added.

“We are revolutionising AI and DML to be an urban connectivity solution from grassroots level,” said Malherbe.

Check out this AI Expo Africa 2020 ONLINE talk by MedSol AI Solutions CEO Kathryn Malherbe on the Invisio AI platform: https://youtu.be/ yTaHlyhG60w