INER, AstraZeneca Launch AI Lung Cancer Detection Imaging

Mexico’s National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) and AstraZeneca join forces to incorporate AI into diagnostic imaging processes, aiming to improve early detection of lung cancer, the leading cause of death from malignant tumors worldwide.

Lung cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment is limited, says Jorge Alatorre, Head of Oncology Service, INER. “If we identify it in early stages, we can cure it.” 

The partnership introduces Qure AI, an internationally validated software designed to assist physicians in interpreting chest X-rays and CT scans, facilitating the identification of pulmonary nodules and other abnormalities associated with conditions such as lung cancer and tuberculosis.

AI can reveal conditions beyond lung cancer and strengthen the institute’s capacity for comprehensive care, says Carmen Hernández, Director General, INER. She adds that the collaboration between a specialized public institution and a global pharmaceutical company is a step toward building scalable healthcare solutions.

The project will unfold in three stages. The first will implement the software to analyze about 24,000 chest X-rays and 20,000 CT scans performed annually at INER. The second phase will extend collaboration to primary care providers, beginning in the Tlalpan area and creating a referral system to connect patients with INER when suspicious findings are detected. The third phase will incorporate the software into medical training, preparing residents to integrate AI tools into clinical practice.

Julio Ordaz, President and General Director, AstraZeneca Mexico, says that timely detection is critical in the fight against lung cancer, and the deployment of AI technology represents a meaningful opportunity to improve patient outcomes in Mexico