International Research Alliance Will Focus on Mesothelioma Progression

While people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma need to focus on the progress of their own illness, researchers from around the world are working to achieve a greater understanding of why the rare form of cancer is so difficult to treat, and what can be done to stop or slow its growth. A renowned United States research organization has announced it will be partnering with a start-up in France with the goal of using artificial intelligence to help advance that understanding.

University of Pittsburgh and French Startup to Focus on Mesothelioma

The University of Pittsburgh has long been on the cutting edge of mesothelioma research, and have long been noted for having established the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB) for Translational Research in partnership with New York University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Meso Foundation. Now they have announced a partnership with Owkin Inc., a French startup founded in 2016, to use artificial intelligence to advance mesothelioma research.

The two organizations have begun a 3-to-6-month mesothelioma study that will enroll 300 mesothelioma patients to confirm the results of Owkin’s previous research. According to Michael Becich, Associate Vice Chancellor for Informatics in the Health Sciences at Pitt, Owkin scientists have found a link between certain molecular signatures within mesothelioma tumors and how the disease progresses.

Partnership Will Study Mesotheioma Progression

According to Dr. Becich, the partnership with Owkin will allow mesothelioma researchers to access Owkin’s tissue slide mining capabilities in order to compare the rare form of cancer’s progression to those of other types of cancer. Having access to Owkin’s datasets will help the collaborative team improve their ability to better predict which patients will respond best to available treatments so that they can identify the best medication for individual patients. 

Beyond the initial mesothelioma research, the Pitt team believes that the partnership will provide a model for greater collaboration between global research organizations so that they can share and gain insights from curated data that will improve treatments for patients all around the world.

If you have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and you need information about the treatment options available to you, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri