A Pan-African Research Infrastructure for Collaborative Biomedical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence in Respiratory Care

AFRICAI-RI is a groundbreaking initiative designed to substantially improve healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by establishing the region's first federated, multi-institutional imaging research infrastructure. The project will leverage European and African expertise to adapt successful data infrastructures and imaging solutions to diverse environments across SSA.AFRICAI-RI will address the critical challenges posed by infectious diseases and the scarcity of medical imaging experts in the region. Furthermore, it will foster healthcare innovation by deploying federated learning technologies to enhanced access to large imaging data in a privacy-preserving, trusted fashion. Furthermore, the project will develop AI tools optimised for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and pneumonia in both adults and children, while ensuring their applicability across different imaging modalities such as X-ray and ultrasound. AFRICAI-RI is also committed to building local capacity by enhancing expertise in AI and clinical research through extensive training and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, the project aims to drive academic and economic opportunities by promoting new models of IP management and AI certification specific to the needs of SSA. The consortium will work closely with both local and international public health organisations to develop ethical guidelines and policy frameworks that enable the sustainable integration of AI in imaging diagnostics across SSA. Ultimately, AFRICAI-RI aspires to create a lasting infrastructure that not only addresses immediate healthcare needs but also fosters ongoing innovation and collaboration within the African continent and beyond.