We interviewed Karim Lekadir, Director or BCN-AIM lab at the Universitat de Barcelona and ICREA research professor about research in Africa and the special MICCAI 2024 session "From MICCAI to AFRICAI". The session will be held on Wednesday October 9 from 13:30 - 16:30 in the Diamant room.
As General Chair of MICCAI 2024, what inspired you to create this special session focused on AI for medical imaging in Africa?
We wanted to close the conference on Wednesday afternoon with a special event focused on Africa, not just as a way to say farewell to Africa, but to emphasize that MICCAI 2024 is not the end — it's the start of a new journey. We want to ensure there is continuation, because there is tremendous potential for more research in Africa on MICCAI related topics, and this session is designed to foster that. We want to use this session to look ahead, present our newly formed SIG-AFRICAI, and discuss future partnerships that address specific healthcare challenges in Africa.
Over the last years, I have been deeply inspired by the talent and determination of African researchers to contribute to new research. This session is meant to spotlight their efforts, showcasing the innovative solutions they are developing, often in low-resource settings where these advancements are needed most. It is about creating a global stage for them to discuss their unique challenges and ideas for the future.
What do you believe are the most significant barriers Africa and other limited-resource settings face?
Africa holds tremendous untapped potential in science, technology, and healthcare, but significant barriers still exist—particularly in terms of infrastructure, resources, and access to opportunities. One of the major obstacles is the lack of access to local data and local resources needed to develop and train AI systems. While there is no shortage of talent and expertise in Africa, the infrastructure to support advanced research in AI and medical imaging is still limited.
Another challenge is that medical image computing is still a relatively new field in Africa, which makes capacity building—both technical and human—a priority. There is a strong need for collaboration, both within Africa and with international partners, to ensure that the continent can adopt global best practices and create tailored solutions. For instance, developing ethical frameworks to access and use local data, establishing strong partnerships with clinical sites, and validating AI tools are all crucial for advancing the field in a way that benefits healthcare systems in Africa.
How could the MICCAI community contribute to African research?
Capacity building is a critical area where the MICCAI community can help. This can be achieved through initiatives such as webinars, lectures, and mentorship programmes, as well as by inviting African collaborators to conferences and research stays.
But really it is a two-way stream, it's equally important for MICCAI members to visit African institutions, engage in joint projects, and co-author papers. By engaging locally, we can ensure that the innovations we all develop are not limited to high-income countries and instead address the unique challenges they face.
Thirdly, granting access to technical resources is another way the community can contribute. Providing African researchers with access to essential tools such as GPUs for AI training would significantly boost their ability to develop advanced solutions.
Finally, I'd like to highlight that there's great work already being done and for this I'd like to extend my gratitude! Thank you to those in the MICCAI community who have already contributed through initiatives such as the AFRICAI Summer School 2023, webinars, and joint research efforts. Many members and the MICCAI Society have supported these activities, and we can already see them bearing fruit at MICCAI 2024 with 17 African countries represented this year, that's a whopping 183% increase compared to last year! There's great potential for more members to get involved and continue supporting African research - thank you.