- KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
- Oct 2022
- Bulletin
Engaging Secondary School Students
AI for Medical Image Analyses of Oral Cancer Prognosis Prediction
Students including Ho Chun Yin (front row left) and Fan To Ming (front row right) participated in the KE project. Back row from right: Dr Alice Chan, Assistant Vice-Principal; Mr Kwan Siu Ming of PLK Tong Nai Kan Junior Secondary College and Dr Zheng Li Wu.
A collaboration has formed between The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and PLK Tong Nai Kan Junior Secondary College to enable early exposure of secondary school students to a university-led project. The project involves the use of artificial intelligence to analyse medical images for oral cancer prognosis prediction. This KE project is led by Dr Zheng Li-Wu, Clinical Associate Professor in Division of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry (HKU). Team members included Dr Zheng’s PhD student, Miss Cu Chui Shan and Dr Nikki Lee from Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine (HKU).
This project-based KE program involves a series of training workshops for analysing medical images followed by a competition. The workshops are co-conducted by HKU team and Dr Alice Chan, lecturer of PLK Tong Kan Junior Secondary School with the objective to provide guidance and training on medical image analyses to about 500 students from different grades. Ten best learners will be chosen to enter a competition based on the preliminary assessment of their performance on image analyses. So far, about one-eighth of the students have received the first phase of training on using a computer tool to extract and digitalize the prognostic features from the provided medical images. This first phase of training is satisfactory as we have already identified several students with special talents on performing the medical image analyses. In the next phase, more workshops will be arranged.
Dr Alice Chan is delighted to run the project, “Some students are not sure if they like science because they don't know much about the real life application of this subject. Through this collaboration, the students learnt about research, application of science and the latest trend of science technology.”
Student Fan To Ming shows image analysis to Dr Alice Chan and Dr Zheng Li-Wu
Student (Form 4) Fan To Ming said that before joining the project, he expected it to be very difficult. However, after participation, he gained interest to engage in medical studies, “I learned that medical research is not just about using medicine to help the patients, it also needs someone to utilise computers and technology. It needs good computer skill and good eye sights. As I like to play video games, it is fun for me.”
Dr Chan added that medical research nowadays is not just about lab work or experiments. “The image analysis requires students who possess excellent computer skills rather than just traditional laboratory or complicated science concept. This is very suitable for our new generation who is good at computer skills.”
The Faculty of Dentistry has been committing to Knowledge Exchange with the public. Through this project, we wish to provide information, discussion and education on oral cancer, its diagnosis by AI application and related research.
Another student (Form 3) Ho Chun Yin engaged in the project as he has a strong interest in medical science. He shared that he was given 5 folders to analyse during summer holiday. At first, he believed that it was an easy task but ended up rushing through 10 files each day in order to complete the project. “It is a valuable experience. I now understand that research requires more hard work than I thought. I now have better time management and will put more effort into pursuing my goals.”
Dr Chan stated that the school would like to build an AI system to let students assist the oral cancer patient diagnosis in the future and acquire new knowledge, “The world is changing, and we must keep up with it.”
Dr Zheng is pleased to learn this KE programme enhanced secondary school students’ interest and awareness in oral cancer and medical science as well as inspired the school to develop AI teaching and learning. “The Faculty of Dentistry has been committing to Knowledge Exchange with the public. Through this project, we wish to provide information, discussion and education on oral cancer, its diagnosis by AI application and related research.”