Feb 23, 2019

Update regulations on medical AI, experts plead

The field of medicine is, like other industries and disciplines, in the process of incorporating AI as a standard tool, and it stands to be immensely useful — if it’s properly regulated, argue researchers. Without meaningful and standardized rules, it will be difficult to quantify benefits or prevent disasters issuing from systematic bias or poor implementation.

AI tools, or to be precise, machine learning agents trained to sift through medical data, are popping up in every room in the hospital, from the x-ray machine to the ICU. A well-trained model may spot an anomaly on a lung scan, or hear arrhythmia in a resting patient, faster or more reliably than a nurse or doctor.

At least that’s the theory; and while there’s no reason to doubt that an AI could be very helpful and even save lives, these models amount to medical treatments and must be documented and tested with especial rigor. So say Ravi B. Parikh, Ziad Obermeyer and Amol S. Navathe, from the University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley and the Crescencz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia respectively.

“Regulatory standards for assessing algorithms’ safety and impact have not existed until recently. Furthermore, evaluations of these algorithms, which are not as readily understandable by clinicians as previous algorithms, are not held to traditional clinical trial standards,” they write in an editorial published in the journal Science.

“Unlike a drug or device, algorithms are not static products. Their inputs, often based on thousands of variables, can change with context. And their predictive performance may change over time as the algorithm is exposed to more data.”

Nevertheless the FDA has partially approved a system called the WAVE Clinical Platform, which watches vitals for trouble. But if WAVE and others like it are truly to provide ongoing service they need to be assessed on standards created with AI models in mind.

Naturally the authors did not propose this without examples, which they list and describe, summarized as follows:

  1. Meaningful endpoints:
  2. Appropriate benchmarks:
  3. Interoperability and generalization:
  4. Specific interventions:
  5. Structured auditing:


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Feb 19, 2019

Scientists use CRISPR to make stem cells invisible to immune system

Scientists at the University of California San Francisco have developed a new method to minimize the likelihood that a person's body will reject stem cells during a transplant. Using the CRISPR gene editing tools, the scientists managed to create ste...

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Feb 13, 2019

Save the date and save a bundle on Disrupt SF 2019

Mark your calendars startup fans, because Disrupt is returning to the beautiful City by the Bay to host TechCrunch’s flagship event, Disrupt SF 2019, October 2-4 at the Moscone North Convention Center. It may only be February, but it’s never too early to save the date — or save a bundle. Planning pays off and, in this case, it pays in the form of cold, hard cash.

Simply register your interest by signing up for our mailing list and you’ll save an extra $500 on your Disrupt SF 2019 passes when the official registration opens next month. How sweet is that?

Last year’s Disrupt SF — TechCrunch’s largest ever — was epic by any measure, and we’re hard at work to make this year even better. Be on the lookout for more details in the coming weeks and months, but here’s a taste of what you can expect.

Startup Battlefield, the world-renowned startup competition, returns — and so does $100,000 in prize money for one extraordinary early-stage startup. Last year, Forethought took home $100K. Will your startup be the next? Keep your eyes on the site for your chance to apply and compete for the cash, the coveted Disrupt Cup and a ton of media and investor attention.

The Startup Alley exhibit hall — the heart and soul of Disrupt — will feature hundreds of early-stage startups demonstrating innovative tech and talent. Exhibiting startups cross a wide range of technologies, with a special focus on these tracks: Artificial Intelligence, Augmented/Virtual Reality, Blockchain, Biotech/Healthtech, Fintech, Gaming, Investor Topics, Justice/Diversity, Mobility, Privacy/Security, E-commerce/Retail and Robotics.

You’ll also find the hand-selected TC Top Picks camped out in the Alley. Do you have what it takes to be a TC Top Pick? Watch the site for your chance to apply. Here’s another reason to stay tuned; we’re planning to give away free Startup Alley exhibitor packages through our Top Picks program.

The Hack is back. That’s right, the TechCrunch on-site Hackathon returns to run simultaneously alongside Disrupt SF 2019. Hundreds of developers, engineers, students, marketers and makers form teams and spend the first two days of Disrupt coding and hacking their way to a new software product. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best overall hack, and there will be plenty of other sponsored hack contests, cash prizes, swag — and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

There’s your taste of Disrupt SF 2019. Be sure to save the date — October 2-4 at Moscone North — and sign up for our mailing list. That one simple act will trim $500 off the price of your exhibit pass when registration opens. It’s the easiest bundle you’ll ever save.



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Feb 11, 2019

New Google Docs toolkit can automate tasks

Are you tired of having to wade through Google Docs files, or make countless changes to templates every time you want to use them? Google might soon bring relief. It's officially launching a Google Docs programming interface that lets developers auto...

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Feb 8, 2019

Big Data Approach Shown to be Effective for Evaluating Autism Treatments

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who developed a blood test to help diagnose autism spectrum disorder have now successfully applied their distinctive big data-based approach to evaluating possible treatments. The findings, recently published in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, have the potential to accelerate the development of successful medical interventions.


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