-
AI-Powered Placental Insights for Better Outcomes
Our Research
We're a Consortium of Academic Institutions That Focuses On Analyzing Placentas Using A.I.
A.I. Development
We will develop AI-based software that accurately identifies a range of placental features and diagnoses from digital images.
Improving Reliability and Robustness
We will improve the reliability and robustness of the software under different conditions.
Clinical Data Integration
We will test and quantify improvements in software accuracy with medical data input.
About Us
PlacentaVision is an NIH-funded R01 project.
The goal of this project is to develop and validate software to assess placentas from digital photographs in any delivery setting
The resulting software will glean visual characteristics from the disc, cord, and membranes and accurately identify specific features (e.g., shape) and diagnoses (e.g., chorioamnionitis). The immediate information could impact clinical care before hospital discharge, and ease-of-use will allow inclusion in pregnancy research. This software has the ability to strengthen traditional pathology exams by standardizing and enhancing the data collected, providing better information to pathologists.
The project's three MPIs are listed below.
Alison D. Gernand, Ph.D., MPH
Nutritional Sciences, Penn State
Dr. Gernand's research is primarily focused on the role of maternal micronutrient status in placental development, fetal growth, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, across a range of settings (low- to high-resource). This work has led her to method and tool development, as there are unique challenges in studying pregnancy.
James Z. Wang, Ph.D., M.S., M.S.
Data Science and A.I., Penn State
Dr. Wang has 30 years of research experience in the areas of AI, computer vision, biomedical informatics, affective computing, and computational mathematics. His research group has developed tools, datasets, and training opportunities related to biomedical research problems.
Jeffery A. Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D.
Pathology, Northwestern University
Dr. Goldstein is a physician-scientist applying a unique combination of expertise in bioinformatics, bioimaging and placental biology to improve maternal and child health through understanding the placenta in health and disease.
Other Team Members
Kelly Gallagher, Ph.D., M.S., Rachel Walker, Ph.D., M.S.
Ph.D. Students: Yimu Pan, Max Mehta, M.S., Gwen Sincerbeaux, M.S.
Independent Developer: Justin Lokos
Past Team Members: Yukun Chen, Ph.D., Zhuomin Zhang, Ph.D., Chenyan Wu, Ph.D., Dolzodmaa Davaasuren, M.S., Ph.D. (expected)
--
Janet Catov, Ph.D., M.S., Yoel Sadovsky, M.D., Lauren Skvarca, M.D., Ph.D., Jeannette Wellman, M.B.A.
Joseph Ngonzi, Ph.D., M.Med.
Lisa Bebell, M.D., Drucilla Roberts, M.D., M.S.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported this research in its early stage. The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is supporting the app development.
Contact Us
Dr. Alison D. Gernand
224 Chandlee Lab
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
United States