The Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance is pleased to introduce the latest recipient of the Graduate Fellowship for Technology-Based Healthcare.
Anirudh Choudhary, a doctoral student in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, is at the forefront of developing next-generation tools to support clinicians in diagnosing for cancer and predicting patient outcomes. He is working with advisor Ravishankar (Ravi) K. Iyer, Ph.D., and the DEPEND research group at Illinois and advisor Aaron Mangold, M.D., and the dermatology group at Mayo Clinic to create robust machine learning methods to help doctors diagnose squamous cell cancer and predict the spread of tumors.
Choudhary’s innovative tumor risk prediction model aims to reduce the variability in how clinicians grade tumors by incorporating cutting-edge AI techniques, such as semantic graph networks, grade-based ranking, and multitask learning. The model is currently undergoing clinical evaluation as a diagnostic assistant, and journal submissions and patent applications (RACR-MIL) are being planned. Anirudh is collaborating with multiple departments at Mayo Clinic to extend this model to other cancers, such as colon and head and neck cancer.
The Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance Technology-Based Healthcare Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for Illinois graduate students to work collaboratively with Mayo Clinic researchers and clinicians on a translational research project aimed at developing new technologies and clinical tools. To get the most from the experience, fellows are encouraged to spend one year at Illinois and one year at Mayo Clinic, creating a pathway for current Illinois graduate students to investigate post-graduation employment opportunities at Mayo Clinic.
Choudhary is the fifteenth fellow to participate in the program since its launch in 2016. To learn more about the fellowship and other educational programs offered by the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance, visit the website or reach out to LeaAnn Carson, clinical partnerships manager, at lcarson@illinois.edu.