Workshop Brasil++ discusses the use of Artificial Intelligence for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Brazil and, according to 2023 data from the Ministry of Health, it ranks second among cancers affecting women in the Northern Region. For this reason, prevention and early diagnosis are critical to improving life expectancy. In the Amazon region, with its continental dimensions, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a strong ally in reducing the waiting time between examination and referral for treatment.

These and other topics related to health and technology will be discussed in Belém from August 11 to 15 during the 1st Workshop Brasil++, one of the activities of the project “Brasil++: Cooperation Network in Artificial Intelligence and Health to Support the Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer,” coordinated by Professor Renato Francês.

The event will feature an extensive program of workshops on the use of AI in research. The opening session, to be held at the auditorium of the Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia Guamá (PCT Guamá) at 9:00 a.m. on August 11, will be attended by authorities and researchers in Oncology and Artificial Intelligence in Pará. The opening session is open to the public, while the workshops are intended for researchers and members of laboratories affiliated with the Centro de Computação de Alto Desempenho e Inteligência Artificial (CCAD-IA/UFPA).

The courses offered during the workshop will be taught by Brazilian researchers working abroad, who will present research experiences, results, and cooperation opportunities aimed at strengthening Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) through science, technology, and innovation.

According to the project’s deputy coordinator, Professor Evelin Helena Cardoso Gomes, the goal of the meeting is to bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, public managers, and civil society representatives to discuss innovative solutions to improve the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, especially among vulnerable populations, supported by AI-based technologies. The program will include immersive activities for international researchers, including visits to key sites related to cervical cancer diagnosis.

These visits will include the Central Laboratory of the State of Pará (Lacen), which conducts cytopathological analyses of Pap smear slides collected in the interior of the state and in the Belém Metropolitan Region; a Primary Healthcare Unit (UBS), where women receive healthcare services and samples are collected for examination; as well as the facilities of the Universidade Federal do Pará and the Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, where research groups are working on the application of AI for cervical cancer diagnosis.

AI and Health – According to the researcher, the main objective of the Brasil++ Network is to accelerate early diagnosis of cervical cancer and related abnormalities requiring closer attention. Implementing this system within the public health network aims to reduce waiting times after Pap smear slide collection, particularly for patients in remote or infrastructure-limited areas.

She illustrates the challenge: imagine a patient living in a distant municipality or a remote riverside community who must travel long distances to undergo the exam. After the test, she returns home and may wait weeks for the result. Often, patients do not return to the collection site or cannot be reached for follow-up, leading to loss of continuity of care and potentially serious health consequences. With an AI-based system capable of immediately preparing and optimizing slide images for submission, a near real-time pre-diagnosis could be generated and later confirmed by a cytologist—whether in Belém or anywhere in the world.

Pará at the Forefront of Artificial Intelligence – The Brasil++ Network is one of the operational branches of the future INCT IAmazônia, a proposal approved under Call 46/2024 of the INCT program by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). INCT IAmazônia was the only proposal from the Legal Amazon focused on AI approved in this call. Beyond supporting cancer diagnosis, it will also work on assessing the quality of Amazonian rivers and applying science to combat misinformation, among other initiatives.

The institute will collaborate with Brazilian researchers as well as research institutions and companies from the United States, Europe, and Asia.