Neuroscience in Action: Touch, Tumors, and AI

Cancer diagnosis in children presents a significant clinical challenge, requiring precise and timely diagnosis for effective treatment. Current diagnostic methods, while advanced, often lack of systematic integration of multimodal data, which can enhance diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making. Additionally, there is a notable shortage of expert neuropathologists, which further complicates the diagnostic process. In this presentation, we explore the transformative potential of deep learning in diagnosing children brain tumors, focusing on MRI images and digital histopathology. We discuss our efforts in creating a nationwide digital pathology dataset to train robust AI models and our approach to integrating immuno-histochemistry data. By aggregating multimodal data for each patient, we aim to develop tools that seamlessly align with clinical workflows, offering clinicians a comprehensive and precise diagnostic aid. Join this presentation to hear more on how we delve into the future prospects of AI-driven diagnostics and their impact on children neuro-oncology.

You know how a single touch from a loved one can soothe you and make you feel safe?
Touch plays a crucial role in our social interactions, helping us form and strengthen connections with others and regulate our stress response.
Another system in our brain which is involved in both stress processing and social functioning is the endocannabinoid system. Since both touch and the endocannabinoid system are involved in similar processes, we wanted to explore how these two interact with each other.
In this talk, I will discuss our findings of how the endocannabinoid system influences our perception of touch, in ways that we did not expect. I will also explore potential directions for how these findings could guide future research.