AI Medical Service Inc. and Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) Begin Company-first European Collaborative Research on Gastric Endoscopic AI

AI Medical Service (AIM hereafter), the Tokyo-based med-tech company using deep learning technology to develop “Endoscopic AI”, reached an agreement to collaborate with Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) on December 12, 2022. Under the terms of the contract AIM and HCL have begun several types of research regarding endoscopic AI on April 17, 2023, furthering the evolution of endoscopic medicine in France. Through this research, AIM will undertake its first AI research activities for stomach neoplasia in Europe with the goal of promoting the adoption of endoscopic AI within the continent.

■ Profile of HCL and HCL Collaborators

HCL is second largest hospital in France, comprised of 14 institutions and employing more than 24,000 medical staff. HCL professors Thierry Ponchon and Mathieu Pioche, along with their team of hepato-gastroenterology researchers and professionals, are engaging in the collaborative AI research with AIM. 

Professor Thierry Ponchon served as Head of the Digestive Disease Department at Edouard Herriot University Hospital, Lyon, France, from 2007 to 2017. He also served as President and guideline expert of the European Society of Digestive Endoscopy (ESGE) and he was chairman of the public affairs committee of the United European Gastroenterology (UEG). Professor Mathieu Pioche, also a physician and researcher at HLC, has fellowship experience from Japan’s Keio University and National Cancer Center.

■ Our Mission
 Furthering our mission to “Save Lives All Over the World,” AIM aims to expand its endoscopic AI research and development beyond domestic clinical sites in Japan. In April 2021, AIM established a joint research agreement with National University Hospital, Singapore, and has since been carrying out collaborative research there. AIM seeks to spread endoscopic AI to further countries by conducting joint research with top-tier medical institutions all over the world. AIM hopes to save patients’ lives by redefining the possibilities of endoscopic AI.

■ Our Business and Technology

AIM is developing endoscopic AI to diagnose gastric cancer, a disease overlooked on routine exam in 5-25% of cases (Hosokawa et al. Hepatogastroenterology, 2007, 4(74), 442-4). Thus far, more than 100 medical institutions have participated in our research and development efforts to eliminate these overlooked cancers. 

■Profiles of Collaborating Researchers

【Name】Prof. Thierry Ponchon

【Career】
・1984: MD, Lyon Medical University
・1992: PhD, Lyon Science University
・2007-2017: Head of the Digestive Disease Department at Edouard Herriot University Hospital, Lyon, France        

【Accolades】
・More than 330 publications in international medical journals
・Head of the Digestive Disease Department at Edouard Herriot University Hospital, Lyon, France
・President of the French Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SFED)
・President of the European Society of Digestive Endoscopy (ESGE) 
・Chairman of the public affairs committee of the United European Gastroenterology.

【Name】Prof. Mathieu Pioche

【Career】
・2002: First year of medicine in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne university, competitive exam, place 5/550
・2012: MD, Lyon Medical University
・2014: Fellowship in Keio University and National Cancer Center
・2017: Acceptance of Research direction capability (HDR)
・2020: PhD, Lyon Medical University

【Accolades】
・Guideline expert of European society of gastrointestinal endoscopy (ESGE)

■About Dr. Tada, CEO of AI Medical Service Inc.

Tomohiro Tada, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Tomohiro Tada is the CEO of AI Medical Service Inc., the chairperson of Tada Tomohiro The Institute of Gastroenterology & Proctology as well as Visiting Lecturer, Department of Surgical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Dr. Tada received his M.D. from the University of Tokyo’s school of medicine in 1996 and Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo’s department of surgery in 2005. He later trained in Colorectal Surgery at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

■Related Press Release

・Feb. 9, 2023 “AI Medical Service Inc. Signs Joint Research Agreement with The Chinese University of Hong Kong 〜AIM is the first Japanese company to establish a research partnership in the field of endoscopic AI〜”
https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230109

・Jan. 17, 2023 “AI Medical Service Inc. Relocates its Singapore Office to the NUHS Center for Innovation in Healthcare (CIH), strengthening ties with National University Hospital”
https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230117 

・Jan. 1, 2023 “AI Medical Service Inc. Establishes US Second Base〜Fortifying a framework for business expansion in the U.S.〜”
https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230101 

・Jul. 11, 2022 “AIM Establishes local subsidiary in Singapore 〜Accelerating the overseas expansion of “Endoscopic AI” by establishing a second overseas branch〜”
https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20220711 

・Jan. 19, 2022 “AIM Establishes U.S. subsidiary in Silicon Valley as a first overseas branch”
https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20220119 

・Apr. 27, 2021 “AIM and Singapore’s National University Hospital Sign Joint Research Agreement on Endoscopic AI”
https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20210427

About AI Medical Service　―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Company： AI Medical Service Inc.
Address： Hareza Tower 11F, 1-18-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013, Japan 
CEO： Tomohiro Tada
Founding： September 1, 2017
Business ： Development of Endoscopic AI