BCIG BRAINSTORMING
SESSION: "Is It Possible to Use Computer Methods to Get the Information a Biopsy
Provides without Performing a Biopsy?”
Clinical
Center (Building 10) Medical Board Room (Room 2C116)
PURPOSE OF THIS EVENT: A biopsy is a medical test involving the
removal of cells or tissues for examination. The tissue is generally examined
under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically (for
example, using PCR techniques). When only a sample of tissue is removed, the
procedure is called an incisional biopsy or core biopsy. When an entire lump or
suspicious area is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. When a
sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle, the procedure is called a
needle aspiration biopsy. Recently a physician who receives BCIG announcements
wrote to Jim DeLeo the BCIG Chair suggesting the possibility of deriving the
information that is ordinarily derived from a biopsy by applying statistical and
machine learning and artificial intelligence computational methods to other
factors in the patient profile – lest costly factors obtainable by less invasive
methods. Jim sent out a message to the BCIG listserver (and some others)
soliciting interest in this idea and very promptly received over 35 responses
not only endorsing this idea but offering to collaborate and to provide data. It
is the purpose of this special BCIG Brainstorming event to explore further in
friendly dialogue the possibility of actually finding applications where this
idea may work and to discus how this work might proceed. Anyone having interest
is invited to attend.
NIH CONTACT: Jim DeLeo, 301-496-3848
jdeleo@nih.gov
BCIG WEB SITE: www.nih-bcig.org
NIH VISITOR INFORMATION:
http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor/
|
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm November 15, 2007
FACILITATORS:
Jim DeLeo, NIH Clinical Center
Jim DeLeo is chief of the Scientific Computing Section
in the Department of Clinical Research Informatics in
the NIH Clinical Center. He is also the NIH Biomedical
Computing Interest Group Chair.
Post Meeting
Follow-Up Message
This is a follow-up message
related to the “virtual biopsy” idea explored a short time ago in the NIH
Biomedical Computing Interest Group (BCIG).
You are receiving this message
for one of the following reasons: (1) you responded to me (Jim DeLeo) after I
posted the e-mail at the bottom of this message, (2) you came to a BCIG
Brainstorming Session on Thursday, November 15, 2007 entitled “Is It Possible to
Use Computer Methods to Get the Information a Biopsy Provides without
Performing a Biopsy?” that I facilitated or (3) both (1) and (2). (There are
in total slightly more than 50 of you.)
Here is a link to the Power
Point presentation that I gave at the November 15 meeting:
http://bcig.altum.com/documents/virtualbiopsy.ppt
At that meeting a dialogue to
explore the practicality of moving ahead with the virtual biopsy idea was
initiated. Pros and cons were discussed. Some expressed that nothing could
replace the biopsy in certain areas of medicine. Others expressed the idea that
there were too many biopsies taken. Some seemed more optimistic about the
virtual biopsy idea than others. Some had access to data. Some had ideas as to
how to proceed.
So…what’s next? I would like
to propose a two-pronged approach. As I mentioned at the meeting I wear two
hats (metaphorically speaking) at the NIH: (1) chair of BCIG and (2) Chief of
the Scientific Computing Section in the Department of Clinical Research
Informatics (DCRI) in the NIH Clinical Center. Carl Leonard works closely with
me in both capacities. I mentioned at the meeting that BCIG is a “learning and
networking organization” and not an infrastructure for doing projects. We do
projects in the Scientific Computing Section (a “doing organization”). Carl and
I want to propose activities under the auspices of both agencies and here are
the activities that we propose:
1. Under BCIG: We prepared a blind list of the 50+ who responded to
this initiative. You are being sent this e-mail via this blind list. Carl and
I will serve as administrators of this list so that this “community” can
communicate and collaborate. Just send us any e-mail you want distributed to
this “virtual biopsy community” and given that it passes our “reasonableness
test” (which shouldn’t be too hard) we will post it or let you know why we
censored it.
2. Under Scientific Computing: Here we want to do an actual project.
One person at the meeting having access to data (key) indicated a willingness to
collaborate. A few more (with data and ideas) who were not present at the
meeting have also offered to collaborate. (I intend to respond to the latter
individuals soon.) We are open to all comers with data and the appropriate
biomedical knowledge. Please contact me (jdeleo@nih.gov)
AND Carl (cleonard@lired.com)
if you would like to collaborate with us with regard to the “virtual biopsy
idea. Also, feel free to tell others that you know who may be interested in the
virtual biopsy idea. We expect to start actively working on projects related to
this idea in the early spring of 2008.
When you write, please make it
very clear that your message applies to category (1) or (2) as described just
above and please be sure to send your messages to BOTH ME (jdeleo@nih.gov)
AND CARL LEONARD (cleonard@lired.com).
Thanks for your attention.
This is exciting!
Regards,
Jim DeLeo |
