Samo Eržen is a senior Research Engineer at Arctur. He is an expert in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, with extensive experience in working with industry, particularly in business development and the development of innovative ideas. His curiosity and broad knowledge have recently led him to the medical field, where he has been deeply involved in R&D projects as a senior consultant for applying AI technology.
Why did you choose this profession and what motivated you to do it?
I’ve always been fascinated by computers, starting my journey in informatics when punch cards were the norm. For over 40 years, I’ve closely followed the development and state-of-the-art advancements in computing, and my passion and motivation for this field remain as strong as ever.
What is the role of ARCTUR within QUSTom?
The role of ARCTUR within QUSTom is to optimise and refactor the kernel code that is responsible for 3D image reconstruction of the breast captured using a non-invasive full-aperture 3D ultrasound device, developed within a project at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
The existing software has been enhanced to achieve a 35-fold increase in speed, which has significantly reduced the execution time of the software and consequently accelerated the process of breast cancer diagnosis.
What do you hope QUSTom can achieve beyond the life of the project?
Having experienced breast cancer in my family, I am particularly passionate about seeing the continued development of this device. My hope is that QUSTom will lead to widespread screening programmes, enabling early detection of breast cancer, which significantly improves the chances of successful treatment and recovery.
Why are R&D projects such as QUSTom, that bring HPC into medicine, so important for medicine and society?
R&D projects like QUSTom are crucial because they integrate HPC with medical technology, enabling more precise and efficient diagnostic tools. This fusion accelerates the processing of complex medical data, leading to earlier and more accurate detection of diseases. Such projects not only improve patient outcomes but also contribute to the overall health and well-being of society.
As an expert in bringing technology to the medical field, what benefits and challenges are you encountering during your research and development activities? What specific challenges do researchers face regarding IPR and data protection, particularly from the patient’s point of view?
One of the primary benefits we encounter is the ability to revolutionise medical diagnostics through advanced technology, improving accuracy and patient outcomes. However, as computer experts without a medical background, we first need to understand the medical perspective and its unique challenges.
Researchers face significant challenges in ensuring patient data confidentiality and compliance with stringent regulations. Protecting patient information while enabling data sharing for research purposes requires a delicate balance. Additionally, navigating intellectual property rights is complex, as it involves securing innovations while ensuring they can be effectively utilised in the medical field without infringing on existing patents.
Do you have any advice for young researcher engineers who would like to follow in your footsteps?
My advice would be to focus not just on the technology, but on passionately solving the challenges users face. It’s essential to listen to and understand the users’ backgrounds and experiences. Think creatively about how innovative solutions from one industry can be adapted and applied to another, always keeping the end-users’ needs at the forefront of your work.
