Author: Capucine Lepicard

In the framework of the International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI 2024), taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco, in October 2024, the EviRed consortium organizes an AI challenge on Device-Independent diAbetic Macular edema ONset preDiction (DIAMOND).

The challenge’s focus is on center-involved Diabetic Macular Edema (ci-DME), a critical form of DME responsible for significant vision impairment. The presence of DME is generally assessed through 3D optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. As a sub-objective of EviRed, DIAMOND seeks to revolutionize the approach to diagnosing and treating ci-DME by integrating AI and deep learning with 2D ultra-wide-field color fundus photography (UWF-CFP). More challenging than assessing the presence of ci-DME, the goal is to develop and evaluate models that can predict if a patient will develop ci-DME within a year, using UWF-CFP images alone. Success in this challenge could significantly improve early detection and treatment planning, reduce vision loss incidents, and exemplify AI’s efficacy in healthcare.

For training, the DIAMOND Challenge uses data collected in the framework of EviRed. For performance evaluation, DIAMOND will also use independent data from the LAZOUNI Ophthalmology Clinic in Tlemcen, Algeria. By leveraging diverse datasets, the challenge underscores its commitment to developing solutions that are universally applicable, transcending geographic and demographic boundaries. This generality is critical in ensuring that the predictive models developed are robust and effective across different population groups, enhancing their clinical utility on a global scale.

Participants in this challenge will not have access to the training, validation, or test datasets and, consequently, will not have the opportunity to train their models directly. Instead, they are required to submit their code to the organizing committee, who will then run it on a specialized cloud-based cluster. This methodology not only challenges participants to develop highly generalizable models but also prepares them for real-world situations where data privacy, ethical considerations, and logistical limitations are common.

More information here: https://www.codabench.org/competitions/2333/

To reinforce his team, Prof Tadayoni’s  ophthalmology department is looking for his/her future motivated colleague to join the EVIRED team for a renewable 6-month contract.

The position may be part-time or full-time and the assignments and activities will be distributed following the time and your degree level:

• 2 to 3 days of activity in the EVIRED reading center as a reader («grader») for the analysis of retinal imageries (photographs of the fundus in ultra-large field, OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) and OCT-A ( OCT-Angiography) from different types of patient machines included in the EVIRED protocol to allow training and validation of intelligence algorithms
• 1 to 2 days of activity dedicated to research work either in the department or on  the RHU EVIRED’s ancillary projects
• 1 to 2 days of observation activity and training in the medical retina department :
  •  at the consultations where you can work in pair with the senior ophthalmologists for the  patient’s follow-up and where you will have  access to a technical platform of retinal imaging, or you can help in the image’s interpretation acquired by the orthoptists of the department
  •  at the IVIs circuit where you will help with IVIs
  •  In  clinical research,  where you can discover the managment  of academic/ institutional research projects.

This position is open to young graduates with knowledge in ophthalmology, orthoptists,   foreign resident or young ophthalmologist with research appetence.  Foreign doctors can apply if they have a solid training and experience in ophthalmology and   can justify their equivalence of diploma and being authorized to work in France (current work authorization/visa)

The required skills are:

• Rigor and organizational
• Sense of deadlines and results
• Autonomy
• Ease with computer tools
• Use business software
• Observation skills
• Medical research interest
• Teamwork and/or networking

You are interested, send us your application (CV and cover letter) until  March,31 2024 to recherche.oph.lrb@aphp.fr

Remuneration: Salary according to APHP grid and according to your background and diploma BAC + 2: TEC junior/ BAC + 4: TEC senior/ foreign resident / contractual hospital practitioner

On the February 25th, EviRed celebrated its 4th anniversary.

The consortium members (APHP, ADCIS, EVOLUCARE, LATIM-UBO, UP and ZEISS) worked on patient data collected from the 3182 patients included in the Evired cohort by the 14 investigators sites. Clinical data and images are the key to develop the most innovative and powerful algorithms based on AI for better predicting Progression of the Diabetic Retinopathy.

For 4 years, the entire RHU EviRed team has been working tirelessly for the success of the project and first results will be coming soon.

Stay tuned.

Part of the EVIRED team was able to meet during the Retine en Pratique 2023 congress in Paris.

It was a pleasure to meet: EviRed study coordinators, orthoptists, investigators from all centers around France met with graders and supergraders from the reading center as with the leadership team.*

Evired continues!

* Some of the contributors of the EVIRED project were not present during the photo time.

Happy Birthday EVIRED!

Since 3 years, the whole RHU EviRed team has been working very hard for the success of the project.

We are now half way through with an additional year granted by the ANR.

The consortium members (APHP, ADCIS, EVOLUCARE, LATIM-UBO, UP and Zeiss)  are making significant progress and the 14 investigating sites keep on recruiting and following patients to built one of the largest dataset and to develop the most innovative and powerful algorithms based on AI.

Many thanks to all team members involved in the project… This fantastic journey continues and has the potential to better manage patients all around the world !