ZEISS announced two research developments during last week’s Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting—the launch of a new research data platform and an update on an ongoing collaboration.
Let’s start with this platform.
Dubbed the ZEISS Research Data Platform (RDP), this cloud-based and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution is designed to target ophthalmic research workflows.
How it does this: By using AI technology to integrate accessible clinical and research data into clinicians’ and researchers’ daily routines
Talk specifics on how this is done.
The platform utilizes three areas of efficiency, including:
- Using AI to convert research hypotheses into quantifiable biomarkers
- The specifics: Clinicians can train their own algorithms and have AI manage data analysis, giving them (the user) more free time
- Unifying research data by aggregating datasets and formats from multiple sources
- The specifics: Medical and surgical imaging datasets are consolidated from multiple sources, providing users with secure access and total control over their data and algorithms
- Streamlining clinicians’ and researchers’ workflow
- The specifics: Users can automate their data collection to ZEISS FORUM to reduce manual transfers and errors
- Note: ZEISS FORUM is a scalable and flexible ophthalmic data management solution that connects to devices and gives access to all patient exam data
- The specifics: Users can automate their data collection to ZEISS FORUM to reduce manual transfers and errors
What if I’m already using ZEISS FORUM?
Not to worry. ZEISS noted that current FORUM customers can connect to the RDP through an advanced data export to upload their data.
By doing this: Clinicians may benefit from a few key advantages, allowing them to:
- Define and combine filter criteria for a mass data export
- Compliantly de-identify data
- Create, duplicate, delete, or modify export jobs as well as run their export
- Receive DICOM data in format of choice (XML or DICOM)
- See here for more
Nice! I’m interested in adding this to my workflow … how do I get started?
Take note: The platform underwent an initial pilot phase at select clinical practices and is expected to launch in select countries (including the United States) throughout 2025.
- Contact the company to learn more by clicking here.
Alrighty, now more about the ongoing collaboration you hinted at.
Originally launched in 2023, ZEISS and Boehringer’s long-term partnership began with the purpose of developing predictive analytics to enable:
- Early detection of chronic retinal diseases
- Personalized treatments (via prediction capabilities) to prevent vision loss for patients
The initial focus: Identifying markers of early stage retinal diseases via ZEISS Medical Technology’s cloud-connected devices and AI-assisted analysis of large image datasets.
- Learn more about this ZEISS Medical Ecosystem.
And what’s the update on this?
ZEISS shared that the two companies are continuing to make advancements in their combined goal of developing new treatment pathways and precise care for their target retinal disease-diagnosed patient base.
- As Boehringer’s Heiko G. Niessen, PhD, global head of Translational Medicine, Eye Health, noted: “We’re working toward a future in which earlier detection and intervention result in long-term, real-world outcomes that prevent vision loss due to chronic retinal diseases.”
During the ARVO meeting last week, the collaboration was the topic of two expert talks: the use of AI in ophthalmology and tackling unmet needs in earlier treatments for diseases.