Challenge

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in Europe, with over one million cases annually. Timely and accurate treatment decisions are critical, yet the complexity of patient data and variability in treatment responses pose significant challenges. Clinicians are in need of tools that can assist them in making swift, individualized treatment choices to improve patient outcomes.

Solutions

The VALIDATE project aims to develop, test, and certify a trustworthy AI-based Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) to assist in the treatment stratification of acute stroke patients. Building upon existing models and a prototype CDSS, the project will refine machine learning algorithms capable of analysing complex, non-linear relationships across different prognostic variables, including imaging and clinical data. The project will also focus on creating a user-friendly application for clinicians, ensuring seamless integration into clinical workflows. A multi-centre prospective clinical study will be conducted to validate the system’s effectiveness and safety.

Results

By leveraging AI to support clinical decision-making, VALIDATE seeks to enhance the precision and speed of stroke treatment, therefore leading to improved patient survival rates and quality of life. The project’s emphasis on trustworthy AI ensures that the developed tools are safe, fair, and reliable, fostering greater confidence among healthcare professionals and patients as a result. Additionally, the project’s outcomes will provide a framework for the integration of AI into healthcare, that will potentially benefit a wide range of medical disciplines beyond stroke care.