We think that technology has the power to change healthcare and make people’s lives better all over the world. That’s why, today, we’re announcing a new partnership with the Institute of Women’s Cancers, which is founded by France’s world-renowned cancer research and treatment center Institut Curie; Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres University), the leading research university in France; and Inserm, France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research. In addition to sharing useful, scientifically based health information and providing funding for postdoctoral researchers, this partnership will include research into how AI tools can improve cancer treatment. We are embarking on a journey to revolutionize the fight against cancer together, with an emphasis on difficult-to-treat cancers of women, such as triple-negative breast cancer.
Meeting the urgency of the challenge
Women all over the world are devastated by breast and gynecological cancers. Breast cancer diagnoses are prevalent, with almost 60,000 cases annually in France and more than 2 million women diagnosed globally in 2022, according to the most recent data available. And some gynecological cancers, like cervical cancer, are among the most common women’s cancers worldwide.
It is difficult to comprehend these intricate diseases, but they are crucial to lowering mortality rates. That’s why we’re proud to support the new Institute of Women’s Cancers in its mission. The Institute is in a unique position to drive large-scale research into the origins of tumors, their evolution over time, and the particular characteristics of rarer and more complex cancers by leveraging the combined expertise of Institut Curie, Université PSL, and Inserm.
Applying AI’s power to cancer research
We will investigate how AI-based tools can assist in predicting the progression of cancer and the risk of relapse for each patient, with the intention of developing treatments that are more precise and effective. This new partnership combines the world-class expertise in research and medicine that Institut Curie possesses with Google’s cutting-edge AI capabilities. In cases where current treatments are not always effective, we will also investigate the discovery of new biomarkers that can predict which patients will benefit from particular therapies. Anne Vincent-Salomon, director of the Institute of Women’s Cancers, states, “Combining our expertise in research with Google’s advanced technological capabilities offers hope for significant advancements in our mission to improve our understanding and prediction of cancer’s progression and develop more effective treatments.” We will also provide AI skills training for professionals at the Institute of Women’s Cancers and Institut Curie to further empower the Institute’s innovative approach to holistic cancer care, which brings together experts such as postdoctoral researchers, clinicians, sociologists, and economists. Providing the appropriate information to the public Because having the right information at the right time can improve health outcomes and save lives, we are committed to making health information that is accessible, comprehensible, and culturally appropriate. YouTube will host and promote the channel of the Institut Curie, which will share trustworthy scientific content to combat misinformation, educate people about risk factors, and increase screening and follow-up rates. Joining other French partners like AP-HP and the Foundation for Medical Research on YouTube, our partnership with Institut Curie extends our commitment to health. fostering academic community collaboration To recognize the legacy of Marie Curie, a world-renowned scientist and two-time Nobel Prize winner who dedicated her life to global scientific collaboration, Google.org is providing more than $2 million in funding to Université PSL to accelerate applied AI scientific research.
In addition to the research partnership with the Institute of Women’s Cancers, the program will fund research led by Université PSL postdoctoral fellows using AI to improve breast cancer outcomes. The initiative will also make it possible for the Google Research and Université PSL teams to share information and advance science in general. Under the supervision of Jolle Barral, a senior director of Research at Google DeepMind, and Cédric Denis-Rémis, vice president of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development at Université PSL, postdoctoral researchers will also benefit from the experiences and case studies shared by Google researchers. We are excited to use technology to better understand, treat, and prevent women’s cancers thanks to this new partnership.
