Cognitive Care and IBM Partner to Launch China-Tailored Watson for Oncology
Cognitive Care was established in January 2016. It later partnered with IBM to become the designated operator of IBM Watson for Oncology (hereinafter referred to as “Watson for Oncology”) in China, dedicated to applying artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector and developing a China-specific version of Watson for Oncology based on guidelines from the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) and MSKCC (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, founded in 1884).
Wang Taifeng, COO of Cognitive Care, stated that Watson for Oncology experts can assist physicians in clinical decision-making and enhance the quality of treatment. After inputting patient information, Watson generates three categories of recommendations, each indicated by a different color, with multiple options under each category: green denotes recommended regimens, orange indicates reference options, and red signifies not recommended. Importantly, for each recommendation, Watson provides detailed and authoritative literature support, thereby ensuring that oncology treatment is evidence-based rather than relying solely on clinical experience.
Cognitive computing refers to systems capable of scalable learning, purposeful reasoning, and natural interaction with humans. Rather than relying on precise pre-programming, these systems learn and reason through interactions with users and their environment. Cognitive systems not only answer a wide range of questions but also formulate hypotheses, provide reasoned arguments, and offer recommendations based on more complex and meaningful data.
In the broader context of digitalization, cognitive technologies represented by IBM Watson can read and analyze unstructured data that traditional computers cannot recognize, accounting for 80% of all data information. According to statistics, a total of 44,000 oncology-related research papers were published in authoritative global medical journals in 2015, averaging 122 papers per day. Each oncologist would need to spend more than 160 hours per week reading these papers, whereas cognitive technology can complete this task in less than five seconds.
Watson for Oncology has absorbed over 100 years of clinical cancer treatment experience from the United States and undergone more than four years of scientific training. Compared with treatment plans provided by top expert teams at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), it has achieved a concordance rate approaching 100% (with variations across different cancer types). It currently covers lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and others. The key lies in localizing Watson for Oncology.
Regarding localization, Tu Zhen stated, “Hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma is highly prevalent in China, with a significant disparity between domestic and international contexts. Moreover, China’s diagnosis and treatment standards are leading globally. A crucial aspect of cognitive care involves the localization of Watson for Oncology experts.” This primarily encompasses two aspects:
First, it involves compiling existing information to facilitate its use by domestic physicians. Watson was trained in an English-speaking environment within the United States, thus imposing high demands on physicians’ professional English proficiency. While many renowned experts and specialists tend to prefer reading the original English materials, medical record inputs are still maintained in English; meanwhile, titles of relevant literature are translated to aid understanding among primary-care physicians with limited English proficiency.
Second, we will incorporate certain treatment protocols with Chinese characteristics to conduct localized training for major cancer types prevalent in China. The data curation and training for Watson for Oncology experts were completed in the United States; therefore, to better serve the domestic market, it is necessary to integrate China-specific treatment regimens and perform training tailored to Chinese patients. While retaining the original treatment protocols, Cognitive Care will continue to advance localization efforts, with the aim of establishing a Watson for Oncology expert system specifically designed to serve Chinese patients.
Cognitive Care, in partnership with partners such as ThinkMed Smart Healthcare, is developing and promoting solutions for hospital electronic medical record (EMR) implementation, hospital multidisciplinary team (MDT) platforms, and scientific research. To date, more than 20 hospitals have expressed intent to collaborate.
Cognitive Care has partnered with multiple teleconsultation system providers. These providers possess extensive resources in hospitals and oncologists, creating a complementary resource synergy with Cognitive Care and accelerating market entry. Meanwhile, the company is actively organizing expert panels focused on cancer types with high incidence in China and those where China boasts internationally leading treatment standards, inviting them to evaluate and review treatment protocols with Chinese intellectual property rights.
Headquartered in Hangzhou, with some R&D personnel based in Shanghai, the company is currently expanding its team across all departments. In March 2016, Cognitive Care completed an angel financing round of tens of millions of yuan, with participation from Puhua Capital and Sunwin Medical Information.
(It is reported that IBM will join forces with Cognitive Care to hold the “Winning the Future of Healthcare, Supporting Healthy China” — IBM Watson for Oncology Medical Forum and China Launch Ceremony in Beijing on August 11.)