Strategic Alliance Enhances Early Diabetes Detection
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has partnered with Saudi health tech company amplifAI health to develop a cutting-edge system designed to improve the detection of diabetes.
The system will integrate the artificial intelligence capabilities of amplifAI health with KAUST’s HyplexTM, a pioneering hyperspectral imaging technology crafted by Andrea Fratalocchi, a professor of electrical engineering at the university.
As a first step, the technology integration will be evaluated for its potential in identifying and managing diabetes-related foot complications. A clinical trial is in the planning stages to further test the efficacy of the combined technology.
Diabetes is a global health concern with over half a billion individuals currently affected by the condition, and projections indicate an increase of more than 100 million by 2030. In Saudi Arabia, nearly 20% of the population suffers from diabetes, and it’s a leading cause of lower limb amputations across the world.
The goal of the collaboration is to facilitate early detection of diabetes, which can lead to more effective treatment strategies and a significant reduction in lower-limb amputations.
Fratalocchi estimates that the technology could save Saudi Arabia in excess of SR2 billion (approximately $533.3 million) annually in medical expenditures, while also preventing up to 1.5 million foot amputations globally each year, significantly enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals.
HyplexTM distinguishes itself by its ability to capture terabytes of data every second, which is substantially more than what current commercial cameras can achieve, proving critical for early disease identification.
This collaboration signifies the initial application of KAUST’s technology in diabetes treatment and serves as an exemplary model of how Saudi technologies can be harnessed to improve disease diagnostics. It also exemplifies the commitment of the KAUST Smart-Health Initiative to advance future healthcare in the Kingdom.