Healthcare AI
May 26, 2025
AI in Healthcare Weekly
Global Policy & Regulatory Updates
WHO Extends Digital Health Strategy • Member states at the 78th World Health Assembly extended WHO's Global Digital Health Strategy through 2027 (WHO) • New guidance on AI ethics and governance in health released • Widespread efforts to help countries deploy digital health tools
EU AI Act Refinements • Regulators issued draft guidelines on obligations for general-purpose AI models (Osborne Clarke) • Harmonized, risk-based framework for trustworthy AI development • Health applications expected to benefit from clearer regulations
FDA Approvals Continue • Dutch company secured FDA device registration for smartphone-based MS monitoring platform (BioSpace) • System passively monitors multiple sclerosis via keyboard strokes • Tracks cognitive and motor function using digital biomarkers from typing data
AI Safety Spotlight • Anthropic flagged Claude 4 "Opus" as potential biosecurity risk after tests showed it could advise on creating dangerous pathogens (Time) • Company activated strictest "AI Safety Level 3" controls with enhanced cybersecurity and guardrails • UK authorities reported NHS cyberattacks caused delays in lab results and cancer care (The Record)
Clinical AI Breakthroughs
Cancer Immunotherapy Prediction • Researchers unveiled "COMPASS" AI model to predict immunotherapy response across tumor types (medRxiv) • Uses ~44 biologically meaningful immune-response concepts from tumor gene expression • Trained on 10,000+ tumors, outperformed 20+ existing biomarkers across seven cancer types • Provides interpretability by linking gene patterns to immune mechanisms
Dermatology Innovation • Japanese team developed smartphone AI app that grades eczema severity from patient photos (EurekAlert) • Accuracy approaches dermatologist assessments (r≈0.73 correlation) • Enables real-time, at-home monitoring of chronic skin conditions • Alerts doctors when eczema worsens
Novel Screening Methods • AstraZeneca partnered with Aptar Digital Health to analyze retinal scans for early chronic kidney disease signs (Pharmaphorum) • AI examines fundus images for CKD and cardio-renal conditions • Aims to catch kidney disease earlier in primary care settings.
Workflow & Industry Innovations
Microsoft's AI Orchestrator • Multi-agent system automates tumor board case preparation (Fierce Healthcare) • Trials at Stanford, Johns Hopkins show prep time reduced from hours to minutes • Pulls data from clinical notes, pathology, imaging, literature, and guidelines • Surfaces treatment options and clinical trial matches clinicians might miss
COPD Care Enhancement • Viz.ai collaborated with Sanofi and Regeneron on AI-powered COPD care module (Viz.ai) • Uses natural language processing to screen hospital EHRs • Identifies high-risk COPD patients who may be overlooked • Flags patients needing pulmonary rehab, specialist consults, or advanced therapies
Remote Monitoring Expansion • Huma Therapeutics acquired Aluna respiratory monitoring startup (Globe Newswire) • Adds 150+ U.S. clinics and health systems to network • Integrates FDA-cleared lung function devices for comprehensive remote patient monitoring • Covers ~500,000 patients with asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea
Global Health Innovation • India-based Qure.ai launched AIRA AI assistant for frontline workers in low-resource settings (Qure.ai) • Unveiled at WHO Assembly as digital co-pilot for nurses and community health workers • Automatically captures patient symptoms, guides clinical protocols, summarizes data • Designed to reduce 40% administrative burden and improve care consistency.
Key Takeaways
The past week highlighted both AI's transformative potential and the critical need for responsible oversight in healthcare. From breakthrough diagnostics in cancer and dermatology to workflow innovations streamlining care delivery, AI continues to deepen its role in medicine. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies and industry leaders are actively shaping frameworks to ensure patient safety, equity, and global coordination in AI deployment.
Sources: Developments drawn from WHO, regulatory press releases, peer-reviewed research, EurekAlert, and industry news outlets including Fierce Healthcare and Viz.ai.
Healthcare AI
May 26, 2025
AI in Healthcare Weekly
Global Policy & Regulatory Updates
WHO Extends Digital Health Strategy • Member states at the 78th World Health Assembly extended WHO's Global Digital Health Strategy through 2027 (WHO) • New guidance on AI ethics and governance in health released • Widespread efforts to help countries deploy digital health tools
EU AI Act Refinements • Regulators issued draft guidelines on obligations for general-purpose AI models (Osborne Clarke) • Harmonized, risk-based framework for trustworthy AI development • Health applications expected to benefit from clearer regulations
FDA Approvals Continue • Dutch company secured FDA device registration for smartphone-based MS monitoring platform (BioSpace) • System passively monitors multiple sclerosis via keyboard strokes • Tracks cognitive and motor function using digital biomarkers from typing data
AI Safety Spotlight • Anthropic flagged Claude 4 "Opus" as potential biosecurity risk after tests showed it could advise on creating dangerous pathogens (Time) • Company activated strictest "AI Safety Level 3" controls with enhanced cybersecurity and guardrails • UK authorities reported NHS cyberattacks caused delays in lab results and cancer care (The Record)
Clinical AI Breakthroughs
Cancer Immunotherapy Prediction • Researchers unveiled "COMPASS" AI model to predict immunotherapy response across tumor types (medRxiv) • Uses ~44 biologically meaningful immune-response concepts from tumor gene expression • Trained on 10,000+ tumors, outperformed 20+ existing biomarkers across seven cancer types • Provides interpretability by linking gene patterns to immune mechanisms
Dermatology Innovation • Japanese team developed smartphone AI app that grades eczema severity from patient photos (EurekAlert) • Accuracy approaches dermatologist assessments (r≈0.73 correlation) • Enables real-time, at-home monitoring of chronic skin conditions • Alerts doctors when eczema worsens
Novel Screening Methods • AstraZeneca partnered with Aptar Digital Health to analyze retinal scans for early chronic kidney disease signs (Pharmaphorum) • AI examines fundus images for CKD and cardio-renal conditions • Aims to catch kidney disease earlier in primary care settings.
Workflow & Industry Innovations
Microsoft's AI Orchestrator • Multi-agent system automates tumor board case preparation (Fierce Healthcare) • Trials at Stanford, Johns Hopkins show prep time reduced from hours to minutes • Pulls data from clinical notes, pathology, imaging, literature, and guidelines • Surfaces treatment options and clinical trial matches clinicians might miss
COPD Care Enhancement • Viz.ai collaborated with Sanofi and Regeneron on AI-powered COPD care module (Viz.ai) • Uses natural language processing to screen hospital EHRs • Identifies high-risk COPD patients who may be overlooked • Flags patients needing pulmonary rehab, specialist consults, or advanced therapies
Remote Monitoring Expansion • Huma Therapeutics acquired Aluna respiratory monitoring startup (Globe Newswire) • Adds 150+ U.S. clinics and health systems to network • Integrates FDA-cleared lung function devices for comprehensive remote patient monitoring • Covers ~500,000 patients with asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea
Global Health Innovation • India-based Qure.ai launched AIRA AI assistant for frontline workers in low-resource settings (Qure.ai) • Unveiled at WHO Assembly as digital co-pilot for nurses and community health workers • Automatically captures patient symptoms, guides clinical protocols, summarizes data • Designed to reduce 40% administrative burden and improve care consistency.
Key Takeaways
The past week highlighted both AI's transformative potential and the critical need for responsible oversight in healthcare. From breakthrough diagnostics in cancer and dermatology to workflow innovations streamlining care delivery, AI continues to deepen its role in medicine. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies and industry leaders are actively shaping frameworks to ensure patient safety, equity, and global coordination in AI deployment.
Sources: Developments drawn from WHO, regulatory press releases, peer-reviewed research, EurekAlert, and industry news outlets including Fierce Healthcare and Viz.ai.