AI4Lungs develops advanced AI tools and computational models to improve the diagnosis, patient stratification, and treatment of respiratory diseases by integrating diverse health data into clinical decision-making. Designed to fit seamlessly into existing healthcare pathways, it supports clinicians from early suspicion to treatment planning while enabling more precise, data-driven care across settings. By reducing unnecessary tests and improving resource use, the project aims to lower healthcare costs and expand access to high-quality care, with solutions that can be adapted to other diseases and sectors in the future.
At Future Needs, participation in the AI4Lungs project is embraced through involvement in various Work Packages such as “Project Management”, “End-User Co-Design, System Architecture and Framework Analysis”, “Legal and Ethical Issues”, “Algorithm Validation, Pilot Testing and Assessment”, and “AI4Lungs Platform, Digital Twin Service and User Experience”. Leadership is provided in the critical Work Package of “Dissemination, Communication, Sustainable Exploitation“.
Our contribution spans across multiple critical domains, ensuring the project aligns with regulatory and ethical standards. Involvement in the AI4Lungs project is characterised by a comprehensive approach, with pilot testing and assessment of AI tools being conducted to evaluate their effectiveness in real-world scenarios. Future Needs plays a key role in ensuring the AI4Lungs platform meets both user needs and technical specifications. Our involvement in the Digital Twin service design and implementation focuses on optimising the user experience, with a dedicated effort towards ensuring end-user co-design principles are upheld, thereby aligning solutions closely with the needs of clinicians and patients. Furthermore, our team is responsible for analysing and defining the system’s architecture and framework, emphasising robustness and scalability.
Leading the project’s impact maximisation, Future Needs spearheads strategic approaches for the sustainable exploitation of AI4Lungs outcomes. This includes a significant contribution to Health Technology Assessment (HTA), where we evaluate the technology’s impact on healthcare systems, focusing on usability, cost-effectiveness, and standard of care enhancements.
Future Needs is also in charge of mapping the stakeholder ecosystem, ensuring effective communication and engagement through digital tools. Our team is integral in assisting in designing and implementing user-friendly interfaces for the decision support system. Ethical assessments and monitoring are rigorously overseen, with a strong focus on promoting awareness around ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI). In addition, we lead project branding and communication efforts, organise and host the EU Summit on OneHealth, and develop a TRL9 roadmap, guiding innovation and exploitation. Lastly, our commitment extends to promoting the project’s uptake and sustainability, with a focus on regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, economic assessment, and health technology assessment, ensuring the longevity and widespread adoption of AI4Lungs’ results.
AI4Lungs advances AI in healthcare by developing integrated, explainable tools that combine diverse data sources to improve diagnosis, patient stratification, and treatment of lung diseases. Using techniques such as deep learning, predictive modelling, and advanced imaging analytics, the project aims to deliver reliable, clinically ready solutions supported by secure infrastructure and real-world validation.
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