Partnership in the international project "BIGPICTURE"

15.03.2021

Prof. Leszek Kalinowski

Jarosław Skokowski, Ph.D.

The Medical University of Gdańsk has become a partner in the European BIGPICTURE digital histopathology project. The objective of the project is the development of telepathology by creating a European platform combining a digital repository of immuno/histological preparations (WSI – whole slide imaging) with IT tools for image analysis, including advanced artificial intelligence (AI – artificial intelligence) algorithms. Obtaining the status of a partner in the BIGPICUTRE project was possible thanks to the efforts of Prof. Leszek Kalinowski, Jarosław Skokowski Ph.D. and the work of the entire team of the Division of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics of the MUG (DMLD).

The initiative was divided into four main stages: from creating an IT infrastructure for storing, sharing and processing images, through legal and ethical aspects to ensure data confidentiality, to creating a digital repository of 3 million images of immuno/histological preparations as a data source for the development of expert IT software supporting diagnostics. The project will be implemented by European leaders in computational pathology in cooperation with centers with access and competence in digitizing histological resources.

The BIGPICTURE platform will connect communities of pathologists, researchers, AI developers, patients and industry sites. The presence of MUG’s scientists in this group is the result of the achievements of the DMLD Team at BBMRI.eu-ERIC in creating expert telemedicine solutions in the field of imaging, giving the opportunity to actively participate in long-term international initiatives that will designate innovative approaches in the analysis of microscopic images of cells and tissues.

The initiative is a multi-center program funded by Horizon 2020 H2020-EU. 3.1.7. – Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 (IMI2), which is to become a catalyst for digital transformation in pathomorphology. The project (no. H2020-JTI-IMI2-2019-18) value is € 69 641 907.