Alibaba DAMO Academy Expands global AI health initiatives with new partnerships in Singapore and Saudi Arabia

To accelerate global progress in healthcare AI, Alibaba DAMO Academy has announced strategic collaborations in Singapore and Saudi Arabia aimed at driving innovation in medical research and clinical applications.

In Singapore, DAMO Academy is partnering with NHG Health to advance AI-powered healthcare at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), one of the country’s largest multi-disciplinary hospitals. The collaboration harnesses the combined strengths of both organisations in medical AI and scientific research, with a focus on enhancing early screening for conditions such as pancreatic cancer, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, breast cancer, and kidney masses.

Through joint research, development, and external validation, the initiative aims to broaden access to AI-enabled early detection tools—supporting precision medicine and enabling more timely, effective treatments.

In Saudi Arabia, DAMO Academy will work with Abdul Latif Jameel Health, the healthcare division of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, to explore AI-assisted diagnostics for a wide range of diseases. These include cancers such as pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancer; chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and fatty liver disease; and acute medical emergencies including acute aortic syndromes and pulmonary embolism.

By combining DAMO Academy’s advanced AI technologies with Abdul Latif Jameel Health’s expansive global network, the partnership aims to extend the reach and impact of medical AI across diverse regions.

Among DAMO Academy’s notable innovations is the DAMO PANDA system (Pancreatic Cancer Detection with Artificial Intelligence), which applies deep learning to non-contrast CT scans to detect and classify pancreatic lesions with high accuracy.

Building on this success, the Academy recently introduced DAMO GRAPE (Gastric Cancer Risk Assessment Procedure with Artificial Intelligence), a deep-learning framework that analyses 3D non-contrast CT scans to detect and segment gastric cancer with exceptional sensitivity and specificity.

These breakthroughs underscore DAMO Academy’s commitment to harnessing AI for societal benefit and advancing the frontiers of science and healthcare worldwide.