Transfer Learning is a machine learning technique where a model trained on one task is reused as the starting point for a different but related task. Instead of training from scratch, the model leverages knowledge it has already learned—such as recognizing basic patterns or features—and fine-tunes itself for the new application with less data and computation. This approach is widely used in AI development, such as adapting a general language model for medical diagnosis or using an image recognition model trained on everyday photos to identify rare diseases.
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Fine-tuning | Foundation Model | Generative pre-trained transformer (GPT)
Unlocking Large-Scale Crop Field Delineation in Smallholder Farming Systems with Transfer Learning and Weak Supervision
Unlocking Large-Scale Crop Field Delineation in Smallholder Farming Systems with Transfer Learning and Weak Supervision
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the medical imaging of adult patients. However, its utilization in pediatric oncology imaging remains constrained, in part due to the inherent scarcity of data associated with childhood cancers. Pediatric cancers are rare, and imaging technologies are evolving rapidly, leading to insufficient data of a particular type to effectively train these algorithms. The small market size of pediatric patients compared with adult patients could also contribute to this challenge, as market size is a driver of commercialization. This review provides an overview of the current state of AI applications for pediatric cancer imaging, including applications for medical image acquisition, processing, reconstruction, segmentation, diagnosis, staging, and treatment response monitoring. Although current developments are promising, impediments due to the diverse anatomies of growing children and nonstandardized imaging protocols have led to limited clinical translation thus far. Opportunities include leveraging reconstruction algorithms to achieve accelerated low-dose imaging and automating the generation of metric-based staging and treatment monitoring scores. Transfer learning of adult-based AI models to pediatric cancers, multiinstitutional data sharing, and ethical data privacy practices for pediatric patients with rare cancers will be keys to unlocking the full potential of AI for clinical translation and improving outcomes for these young patients.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the medical imaging of adult patients. However, its utilization in pediatric oncology imaging remains constrained, in part due to the inherent scarcity of data associated with childhood cancers. Pediatric cancers are rare, and imaging technologies are evolving rapidly, leading to insufficient data of a particular type to effectively train these algorithms. The small market size of pediatric patients compared with adult patients could also contribute to this challenge, as market size is a driver of commercialization. This review provides an overview of the current state of AI applications for pediatric cancer imaging, including applications for medical image acquisition, processing, reconstruction, segmentation, diagnosis, staging, and treatment response monitoring. Although current developments are promising, impediments due to the diverse anatomies of growing children and nonstandardized imaging protocols have led to limited clinical translation thus far. Opportunities include leveraging reconstruction algorithms to achieve accelerated low-dose imaging and automating the generation of metric-based staging and treatment monitoring scores. Transfer learning of adult-based AI models to pediatric cancers, multiinstitutional data sharing, and ethical data privacy practices for pediatric patients with rare cancers will be keys to unlocking the full potential of AI for clinical translation and improving outcomes for these young patients.

After launching the Center for Research on Foundation Models, we discuss why these models are so important and reflect on the community response.
After launching the Center for Research on Foundation Models, we discuss why these models are so important and reflect on the community response.


This new class of models may lead to more affordable, easily adaptable health AI.
This new class of models may lead to more affordable, easily adaptable health AI.
