NEW YORK – Caribbean research company CariGenetics and artificial intelligence-driven precision medicine firm Concr on Monday announced a partnership to expand the use of genetic and molecular data in patients from the Caribbean region.
Concr, based in the UK, will work with CariGenetics to create AI models using the TNBC data from the Caribbean region to help improve patient care for underrepresented populations. The companies hope to help increase the development and use of AI-driven precision medicine in Caribbean communities.
CariGenetics aims to collect data from patients of Caribbean descent with or without cancer to identify unique markers for cancer in this population. Its first study focused on breast cancer and included 100 participants of Caribbean descent. Researchers performed whole-genome sequencing on participants with and without cancer to identify causative breast cancer disease genes and link genetics to clinical phenotypes.
"Including diverse data, especially data representing people who've historically been overlooked in research, is not just about making AI fairer, it's essential to broaden our understanding of biology and science," Concr CEO Irina Babina said in a statement. "We are thrilled to partner with CariGenetics who are so uniquely positioned to address this critical need by generating data that supports more accurate, personalized therapy across diverse populations. While historical data brings valuable insights, deliberate prospective data collections like those at CariGenetics is how we advance the field."
Concr's FarrSight platform aims to use genomic datasets to support development of novel cancer therapies. The platform uses predictive analytics and AI to identify biomarkers of response and predict response for individual patients.