VinBrain deploys AI solution for tuberculosis screening at National Lung Hospital (Vietnam), launching the LI-RADS classification feature on DrAid™ CT Liver Cancer D&T

Hanoi, June 25, 2024 - VinBrain Joint Stock Company, a pioneering AI HealthTech company within Vingroup conglomerate, has officially signed a strategic partnership agreement (MOU) with National Lung Hospital (Vietnam) to improve tuberculosis (TB) screening processes at the hospital through the application of artificial intelligence (AI). On the afternoon of June 24, VinBrain also launched its new feature “Liver Lesion Classification according to LI-RADS Standard on DrAid™ CT Liver Cancer D&T”, a precision solution to standardize diagnosis and improve treatment efficiency in Vietnam.  

The collaboration between VinBrain and National Lung Hospital, established in 2019, has a foundation of R&D practices and pilot deployment of DrAid™ platform at five hospitals in the National Tuberculosis Program system. This comprehensive agreement aims to develop in two key strategic directions: 1) Research and development, 2) Practical application in diagnosis and treatment. As part of this agreement, DrAid™ for TB Screening will be deployed at National Lung Hospital to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in initial screenings. It can automatically detect suspected TB cases through chest X-ray images, allowing the hospital to conduct PCR tests only on those suspected cases, thus reducing tuberculosis screening costs from $50-60 USD to just $1 USD per patient. 

VinBrain and National Lung Hospital signed a strategic partnership agreement (MOU) to improve TB screening processes through the application of AI 

DrAid™ for TB Screening is developed based on a dataset of over 4.26 million medical images verified by reputable independent organizations such as Friends for International Tuberculosis Relief (FIT) and FIND, achieving a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 98% (exceeding WHO criteria). This AI-powered product can detect abnormalities in X-ray images in just 15-20 seconds, which aids community-based TB screening. VinBrain was also the sole entity to sign a commercial agreement with Global Fund to transfer the technology of 32 AI licenses to enable TB screening for 1 million people in Vietnam in 2024.

DrAid™ for TB Screening reduces costs and improves diagnosis efficiency at the grassroots-level health facilities 

“Through the National Tuberculosis Program, the AI solution has been implemented in several provinces with high-burden TB, effectively improving TB detection and diagnosis. Recognizing the potential of AI to enhance X-ray reading and TB screening efficiency, especially at the grassroots-level health facilities of the National Tuberculosis Program, this collaboration will lead to valuable advancements that contribute to Vietnam and global TB control efforts," said Dr. Dinh Van Luong, Director of National Lung Hospital, at the signing ceremony. 

The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Dinh Van Luong, Director of National Lung Hospital; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Xuan Phu, Deputy Director of National Lung Hospital; along with a team of doctors and experts from the National Tuberculosis Program. World-class experts, including Dr. Gregory Moore, former Corporate Vice President of Microsoft and Google Health and current VinBrain’s Board Member, and Mr. Jonathan T. Fried, former WTO Ambassador of Canada and VinBrain's senior advisory board member, were also present. 

On the afternoon of June 24, VinBrain officially launched its latest feature "LI-RADS classification on the DrAid™ CT Liver Cancer D&T” at their headquarters. The event drew in leading doctors and professionals from Vietnam's top-tier hospitals such as the 108 Military Central Hospital, Vinmec International General Hospital, and Hanoi Medical University Hospital, along with Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Duy Thang, Director of the Institute of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. This feature utilizes cutting-edge AI technology to analyze CT scans, precisely evaluating the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to LI-RADS standards. Beyond classification, it provides interpretations and other critical criteria based on AI algorithms, including: non-rim arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), non-peripheral "washout”, capsule, size and tumor size growth within 6 months. 

 Interface displaying AI results with LI-RADS criteria interpretation

"VinBrain has developed a truly impressive feature that I haven't seen from any other entity," commented Dr. Moore. 

Founder and CEO of VinBrain, Mr. Steven Truong, shared that this is a breakthrough in liver cancer diagnosis and treatment utilizing AI technology. The application of Explainable AI in this new feature helps provide reliable and substantiated interpretation of liver lesions, aiding doctors in reducing diagnostic errors and ensuring consistency in treatment evaluation.  

VinBrain’s CEO Steven Truong spoke at the launch 

Mr. Phung Nam Lam, Deputy General Director of Professional Affairs and Head of the Emergency Resuscitation Subcommittee, Vinmec Hospital, said: "With this new feature, we have another tool supporting medical experts such as pathologists, clinical practitioners and surgeons. It gives them a reliable source to assess a patient's risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). This is crucial because not all patients can undergo biopsy, or sometimes biopsies aren't even an option." 

This event marks 6 months since the debut of DrAid™ CT Liver Cancer D&T, the world's pioneering platform for liver cancer detection and treatment, in Chicago, US. The launching of LI-RADS classification feature is a proof of VinBrain's relentless effort in developing groundbreaking AI solutions, bringing significant benefits to both doctors and patients. We are currently awaiting US FDA clearance, aiming to commercialize this groundbreaking product in the world's most rigorous market. VinBrain was also the first unit in Southeast Asia to obtain FDA clearance for DrAid™ Radiology V1 with features suggestive of pneumothorax in 2022.