By Huldah Shado
A Nigerian-born researcher in the United States has achieved a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer through the development of an innovative artificial intelligence (AI), model.
Dr. Kayode Raheem, a PhD researcher in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has created SpatioMorph-Rx, an advanced AI model designed to accurately predict how cancer cells respond to treatment.
The model integrates high-resolution imaging and genetic data to pinpoint tumor regions that are resistant to therapy.
This enables oncologists to personalize treatment strategies for each patient, improving effectiveness and minimizing harmful side effects.
Describing the model, Dr. Raheem said it functions like a digital microscope, zooming in on individual cells to analyze their reactions to specific drugs.
It maps clusters of resistant cells within tumors and provides a visual guide that clinicians can use to better target therapy.
Tested using data from non-small cell lung cancer patients, SpatioMorph-Rx successfully identified both treatment-resistant and sensitive areas within tumors.
The model is powered by a sophisticated AI engine capable of learning from existing patient data and applying its insights to new cases.
Crucially, the model employs Explainable AI techniques, allowing doctors to understand the genetic and visual markers driving resistance.
This transparency ensures clinical usability and trust in its recommendations.
Beyond this innovation, Dr. Raheem is leading other pioneering projects. In one, he used AI to design personalized neoantigen mRNA vaccines for breast cancer patients; vaccines tailored to trigger highly specific immune responses, offering a safer and more targeted treatment approach.
He is also exploring AI-based drug discovery from natural sources, including medicinal plants native to Nigeria, with the goal of expanding access to affordable and effective treatments.
Dr. Raheem’s work underscores the transformative role of AI in biomedical research and highlights the growing global impact of African scientists.
His contributions represent a new frontier in precision medicine and reinforce the potential for world-class research emerging from Nigeria and the diaspora.
