Latest news with #PATH
Geek Wire
3 days ago
- Health
- Geek Wire
PATH launches landmark AI study in Africa exploring LLMs' potential in health diagnoses
Penda Health clinicians Oscar Murebu (left) and Naomi Ndwiga review information in the clinic's electronic medical record, which includes an integrated AI consult tool for clinical decision support. (PATH Photo / Waithera Kamau) PATH has launched the largest study of its kind in Africa, recruiting 9,000 participants to test whether artificial intelligence can help primary care clinicians make better diagnoses and treatment decisions in resource-limited settings. The Seattle-based global health nonprofit is deploying large-language model (LLM) technology at clinics in Nairobi to analyze patient symptoms, health histories, provider notes and lab results, and then assist with diagnosis and treatment planning. Bilal Mateen, PATH's first chief AI officer, is leading the organization's wide-ranging AI initiatives that include using tools to accelerate vaccine development and deploying chatbots to discuss sensitive health topics like HPV vaccination with teenage girls. Mateen is proceeding with both excitement and caution as he navigates what he calls 'potentially very risky technology' in vulnerable populations. The medical AI-assistant study, conducted in partnership with the Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium, the University of Birmingham, and Nairobi clinic operator Penda Health, aims to provide the kind of rigorous evidence that has been missing from digital healthcare initiatives in low- and middle-income countries. Bilal Mateen, chief of AI at PATH. (PATH Photo) 'This trial marks an important milestone for our health sector. AI has the potential to bridge health care gaps, particularly in underserved regions,' said Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, Kenya's cabinet Secretary of Health, in a release announcing the study. 'We look forward to the insights it will generate to guide responsible and effective AI adoption.' While organizations have pursued diagnostic assistance tools for years, most get stuck in pilot phases without proving their real-world value, Mateen said. 'Does this tool reduce the rate of treatment failures, people having to come back with unresolved symptoms, people being admitted to hospital as an emergency, people dying?' Mateen said. 'I don't know the answer yet.' Results from the trial are expected by the end of the year. PATH recently launched a second, smaller trial in Nigeria that features a toll-free hotline the provides responses to health inquiries using generative AI. The tool is called the Community Health Extension Worker Assistant (CHEWA) and is meant to serve healthcare workers who don't have access to the internet. The study will run until providers log 3,000 patient encounters. The work is being done in partnership with Viamo, a Canadian social enterprise. GeekWire recently spoke to Mateen about PATH's broader AI efforts. Here are some highlights. Challenging misconceptions Mateen calls out two misconceptions about AI and healthcare. While AI could boost the efficiency and effectiveness of providers by using diagnostic assistants, that doesn't always equal to lower healthcare costs. Better-performance could identify more healthcare needs for lab tests, treatments, etc. Though LLMs are typically trained on information from higher-income nations, AI tools don't necessarily need to be customized for local communities, depending on the use case. A patient with high blood pressure readings, for example, points to hypertension no matter where they live. Faster, cheaper breakthroughs PATH is testing whether Google's AI co-scientist can identify correlations in immune response and vaccine effectiveness that normally require multimillion-dollar trials to prove, potentially shortcutting research for new vaccines. The nonprofit is also using AI to search scientific literature for 'unicorn biomarkers' — rare biological signals that could help fight deadly diseases including rotavirus, gastroenteritis and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. AI on touchy subjects Mateen is interested in chatbots taking the lead in uncomfortable conversations about sensitive issues such as vaccinating against human papilloma virus, for example, which is sexually transmitted and can cause cervical cancer. It can be awkward discuss these serious issues with teenage girls and in some countries these topics are strictly taboo, said Mateen. 'We've discovered it's much easier to get that 14-year-old to speak to an empathetic chatbot, than it is a teacher or some other authority figure in their lives.' Supporting regulation creation PATH is hoping to land a grant to support the establishment of healthcare related AI-regulations in low- and middle-income countries. AI-based technology poses potentially heightened risks for these populations, Mateen said, given their limited access to healthcare, minimal regulatory oversight in this area, and lack of recourse if the AI goes awry. PATH has spent decades helping these nations strengthen regulations for vaccines, drugs and diagnostic testing, he said. 'As much as we want to be the pioneers delivering the next thing, we also recognize a responsibility for us to make sure that there is a mechanism by which us and others are held to account.'
Geek Wire
12-07-2025
- Health
- Geek Wire
‘We will go on': Global health nonprofit PATH navigates U.S. funding freeze from new Seattle HQ
PATH's ribbon-cutting ceremony this week should have been purely celebratory. Instead, the global health nonprofit's move to airy new Seattle offices overlooking a tree-lined ship canal came as the venerable institution is finding its footing after six months of unprecedented turmoil. On the first day of his second term, President Trump froze all foreign aid. A week later, he began dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — a move that could lead to 14 million additional deaths worldwide by the end of this decade, according to new research. The U.S. government has canceled awards to the organization and stalled on payments. PATH laid off roughly 45% of its global workforce, shrinking its current headcount to 1,700. 'We will go on,' Nikolaj Gilbert, president and CEO of PATH, told GeekWire. 'We will go on strong because the needs are still there, they haven't disappeared. So it's for us to challenge ourselves to see how can we continue to have even more impact with less resources.' PATH occupies a unique space in the global health sphere, doing research and testing to develop life-saving vaccines, diagnostics and medical supplies, as well as providing support for effective healthcare systems — all targeting low- and middle-income countries worldwide. It partners closely with foreign health ministries, philanthropies including the Gates Foundation, and major pharmaceutical and other companies to deliver on a mission that began nearly 50 years ago. Roger Peck, PATH's associate director of diagnostics, on a tour of the nonprofit's new lab. (GeekWire Photo / Lisa Stiffler) Navigating the aftermath The nonprofit is charting its course from the new headquarters as staff navigate the aftermath of Trump administration cuts, with the final scope of reductions still unknown. Gilbert last month shared that the nonprofit had awards for 53 U.S.-funded projects at the start of the year. By the end of May, 28 were active and 23 had been terminated; the organization did not provide an updated status. PATH expects funding from U.S. government awards to comprise 18% of its total revenue this year, down from 36% last year. The Gates Foundation remains its largest funder. Since its launch in 1977 as the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, PATH has led and collaborated on innovations that have benefited millions of impoverished people, including: Beyond developing critical technologies, PATH works to ensure products remain affordable, reduce waste in healthcare supplies, and build local supply chains for drugs and diagnostic testing. The nonprofit is also building its artificial intelligence capabilities, hiring Bilal Mateen as its first chief AI officer nearly a year ago. PATH's AI initiatives include accelerating drug and diagnostic development and engineering an assistant to guide healthcare providers treating patients in remote areas. PATH front desk. (GeekWire Photo / Lisa Stiffler) Innovation continues despite constraints PATH operates in 70 countries through dozens of offices worldwide. More than a year ago, the organization recognized an opportunity to downsize its Seattle base as employees shifted to hybrid work following the COVID pandemic. The move from South Lake Union to Fremont cut its footprint nearly in half, from 113,000 to 52,000 square feet. But the March relocation to former Google offices wasn't just about saving space. PATH expanded its specialized lab facilities for vaccine and disease work by 20%, bringing the wet-lab area to 6,000 square feet with capacity for about 20 scientists. On a recent tour of the facility, Roger Peck, PATH's associate director of diagnostics, pointed out the wide range of scientific devices and the modular design of the infrastructure that allows for easy reconfiguration as the field evolves. 'What differentiates us is the type of work that we do here and the variety of work,' Peck said. That includes research in immunology, molecular diagnostic tests, vaccine formulations and other initiatives. The other side of the building is occupied by PATH's Product Development Engineering Lab, which feels like a makerspace and includes 3D printers, life-sized baby dolls for testing devices meant for infants and children, fabricating technologies and refrigerating systems. 'This is a really special facility because we have the capability to do complete in-house, end-to-end medical device development,' said Clara Orndorff, a global health design engineer. 'So we can do everything from prototyping to building, regulated testing to redesign, and technology transfer. In many places that would require you go to four or five different contractors.' Clara Orndorff, PATH product development engineer, explaining the mechanics of a freeze-preventive vaccine carrier, a simple but impactful device designed by PATH. (GeekWire Photo / Lisa Stiffler) Building for the future The remainder of PATH's headquarters features glass-windowed conference rooms, a spacious kitchen area that flows into an event space, offices and desks, and a casual meeting area with comfy chairs and books. Large, multimedia artwork from around the world brightens the walls and hallways. On the day of the ribbon-cutting, PATH leaders struck a tone of optimism, noting that the challenges present an opportunity for change. 'The fragility of this sector is something we could not have imagined before January of this year,' Kammerle Schneider, chief of Global Health Programs at PATH, told GeekWire. The realization has spurred PATH to accelerate long-discussed plans for creating more sustainable healthcare ecosystems and shifting the ownership of solutions to local communities. 'It's a time,' Schneider said, 'of being much more bold than perhaps we've been in the past.' Continue scrolling for additional photos. A cozy spot for informal conversations at PATH's Seattle office. (GeekWire Photo / Lisa Stiffler) PATH's entrance. (GeekWire Photo / Lisa Stiffler)
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Stock Picks for Week of July 7, 2025
Coinbase, Inc. (COIN) is an American publicly traded company that operates a cryptocurrency exchange platform. Coinbase is poised to gain from growth in crypto assets and higher volumes of transactions. Initiatives to enhance the utility of crypto via Base and Stablecoins are encouraging. Subscription and services revenues are benefiting from higher average USDC on-platform balances, USDC market capitalization and higher average crypto asset prices. A solid financial position bodes well for the company. Coinbase expects subscription and services revenues in the range of $600-$680 million in the second quarter. Its partnership with Stripe should strengthen the global adoption of crypto. Coinbase is a fundamentally stronger company and is in a strong financial position to capitalize on the opportunities ahead. Coinbase's debt has been decreasing over the past several quarters. With 84% of its total revenues coming from the U.S. — a market increasingly viewed as a future crypto hub — the company is strategically aligned with domestic expansion. UiPath Inc. (PATH) offers an end-to-end platform for automation, combining Robotic Process Automation solution for digital business operations. UiPath Inc. shares have surged 36% over the past three months, closely trailing the industry's 40% growth. UiPath remains a strong force in the booming Robotic Process Automation (RPA) market, which is poised for substantial expansion over the coming years. Its end-to-end automation platform positions the company to seize opportunities as demand for AI-driven solutions surges. A critical driver of PATH's success is its strategic alliances with top technology giants. PATH boasts a robust financial position, highlighted by its strong balance sheet. With a strong global presence, a robust partner ecosystem, particularly with Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce, and a continued focus on intelligent automation, UiPath is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in the evolving RPA and enterprise automation market. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UiPath, Inc. (PATH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Yahoo
NY Port Authority bus terminal closed due to multi-bus crash
Three New Jersey Transit buses crashed early Wednesday morning, forcing the closure of New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal amid rush hour traffic. The collision occurred at the terminal in Midtown Manhattan, near West 41st Street, around 6 a.m., News 12 reported. It left at least a dozen people injured, including one who was transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Their exact conditions were not provided, but they are all expected to recover. 'New York Port Authority Bus Terminal is closed due to a multi bus accident,' NJ Transit said in a post shared on X just after 8 a.m. 'NJ TRANSIT bus service traveling to and from the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal is being diverted to Secaucus Junction Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.' From there, commuters will have to take the PATH into the city. Trains will also be making additional stops at Secaucus to accommodate affected passengers, the agency said. All NJ transit bus tickets and passes will be cross-honored by NJ TRANSIT rail, New York Waterway at Port Imperial and by PATH at Hoboken, Newark Penn Station and 33rd Street New York. While the cause of the crash remained unclear, a source told NBC New York one of the bus drivers may have suffered a medical emergency. An investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bharat, GSK to halve price of malaria vaccine by 2028
By Maggie Fick and Jennifer Rigby LONDON (Reuters) -Drugmakers Bharat Biotech and GSK will cut the price of their malaria vaccine to $5 per dose by 2028, more than halving its current cost, they said on Wednesday. The vaccine, Mosquirix or RTS,S, was developed by GSK and the non-profit PATH, and was the first malaria vaccine to get approval from the World Health Organization in 2022. GSK is working on a technology transfer to Bharat, and will continue to supply the adjuvant part of the vaccine to Bharat when the Indian drugmaker fully takes over production of the shot by 2028. A phased reduction in price for the vaccine will begin immediately, GSK said in a statement with Bharat, reaching the target price of $5 by 2028. The price cut was "driven by process improvements, expanded production capacity, cost-effective manufacturing, and minimal profit margins," the statement read. Malaria kills more than 500,000 people annually, mainly children aged five and under in sub-Saharan Africa, according to WHO estimates. Cases and deaths fell significantly between 2000 and 2015, but progress has since stalled and even reversed, with a particular jump in mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many experts have expressed hope that vaccines can help turn the tide in the fight against the mosquito-borne disease. But price has been an issue, particularly when compared to other tools to prevent malaria like bed nets. GSK has previously said it was committed to supplying up to 18 million vaccine doses between 2023 and the end of this year. The company plans to supply 15 million doses annually from 2026-2028, according to a spokesperson. Wednesday's announcement comes as Gavi - a global vaccine group that helps buy childhood vaccines in the world's poorest countries - holds an event in Brussels to raise funding for its work over the next five years, as governments pull back from international aid. GSK and Bharat said the price reduction showed their commitment to Gavi, which has been funding some of the roll-out of the malaria vaccine. Twelve African countries are set to introduce the vaccine in their routine immunisation programmes by the end of this year with Gavi's support. The other approved malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, is priced at under $4 a dose. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
