Jan Novak, PhD, of Aston University in Birmingham, U.K., has received 45,000 pounds (about 52,000 euros) from cancer charity Help Harry Help Others to fund a doctoral student's research.
The research will examine the use of MRI to improve diagnosis and treatment of children with brain tumors. The student will develop a computer model that learns from existing scans and basic clinical details such as age, symptoms, and medical history to help clinicians identify likely tumor type and prognosis.
The project will also test methods for handling incomplete data, since not every child receives every scan, and will involve working with clinicians to ensure the tools are useful for doctors, parents, and patients, according to the university.
The research will draw on imaging data from Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The charity presented the funding to Novak on 8 October.
