Advancing breast cancer diagnosis with AI and digital twin driven MRI analysis

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer globally and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. In New Zealand, approximately 3,500 women receive this diagnosis annually. While dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is the gold-standard imaging modality for detecting and managing the disease, the manual reading process has become a critical bottleneck in Aotearoa. This intensely manual process demands deep cognitive focus, exacerbating severe radiologist workforce shortages and costing the healthcare system heavily in dedicated labour time. A sustainable healthcare delivery solution requires a shift from resource-heavy manual interpretation to reliable automated workflows.

This project aims to bridge this gap by developing and validating a reading tool tailored for breast MRI. This includes validation the safety and operational efficiency of the tool across retrospective and prospective studies. Ultimately, this research will establish the foundational evidence for a nationally scalable solution for breast MRI, designed specifically for the healthcare landscape in New Zealand.

This project is eligible for funding but is subject to eligibility criteria & funding availability.

Page expires: 6 October 2026