Case study: HE2RNA
Authors
Case study: HE2RNA
Authors
About Owkin
Owkin is an AI biotechnology company that uses AI to find the right treatment for every patient. We combine the best of human and artificial intelligence to answer the research questions shared by biopharma and academic researchers. By closing the translational gap between complex biology and new treatments, we bring new diagnostics and drugs to patients sooner.
We use AI to identify new treatments, de-risk and accelerate clinical trials and build diagnostic tools. Using federated learning, a pioneering collaborative AI framework, Owkin enables partners to unlock valuable insights from siloed datasets while protecting patient privacy and securing proprietary data.
Owkin was co-founded by Thomas Clozel MD, a former assistant professor in clinical onco-hematology, and Gilles Wainrib, a pioneer in the field of machine learning in biology, in 2016. Owkin has raised over $300 million and became a unicorn through investments from leading biopharma companies (Sanofi and BMS) and venture funds (Fidelity, GV and BPI, among others).
Prediction of gene expression from H&E slides
Context
Predicting gene expression and genomic aberrations in tumors from whole slide images (WSIs) would greatly facilitate patient diagnosis, prediction of response to treatment, and survival outcome.
Methods
Owkin developed a model called HE2RNA able to extract molecular features from histology images alone, providing a powerful tool to enhance clinical research and practice — from diagnosis to treatment optimization.
Results
HE2RNA predicts the transcriptome without the need for RNA-Seq. For each predicted gene, it can map the virtual spatial representation of its expression.
Impact
Identify novel biomarkers in images of specific tumoral regions that are important to better understand disease evolution and differentiated outcomes.
Published in Nature Communications: Schmauch et al. 2020