WSU Researchers Leverage AI to Advance Medical Science

From cancer research to virus detection, AI is accelerating scientific discoveries at Washington State University.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:39pm

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Researchers at Washington State University are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation in various medical fields. A new web-based tool developed by computer scientist Assefaw Gebremedhin will provide researchers, public health officials, and clinicians with easy access to vast amounts of cancer data, enabling them to analyze environmental and behavioral factors, compare molecular data, and map cases geographically. Additionally, AI models developed at WSU have shown remarkable accuracy in identifying pathologies in tissue samples, potentially revolutionizing medical diagnosis for both animals and humans. The university's researchers are also using AI to study virus-host interactions, accelerating the discovery of potential treatments for viral illnesses.

Why it matters

The rapid progress in AI is transforming medical research and healthcare delivery, enabling scientists to analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and make groundbreaking discoveries at an unprecedented pace. These AI-powered innovations at WSU have the potential to significantly improve cancer research, disease detection, and ultimately, patient outcomes. However, the increased use of AI in medicine also raises important ethical considerations, such as privacy, social inequities, and the need to maintain patient autonomy and human involvement in treatment decisions.

The details

The web-based cancer research tool developed by Assefaw Gebremedhin's lab will allow users to examine environmental and behavioral factors, compare molecular data and tumor characteristics across different cancers, and map cases at the state and county levels. This builds on previous work by Gebremedhin's team in designing a system for analyzing the molecular drivers of cancer. Additionally, WSU researchers have developed AI models that can accurately identify pathologies in tissue samples, sometimes even catching signs that human pathologists had missed. These models have the potential to revolutionize medical diagnosis, allowing for faster and more accurate detection of diseases like cancer. Researchers in other fields, such as virus-host interactions and 3D printing of artificial organs, are also leveraging AI to accelerate their work.

  • The web-based cancer research tool is currently in the final stages of preparation for journal submission.
  • In 2024, WSU professor Thomas May discussed the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in medicine during a university web presentation.

The players

Assefaw Gebremedhin

A computer scientist at Washington State University and the head of the Scalable Algorithms for Data Science Lab. He is leading the development of the web-based cancer research tool.

Michael Skinner

A professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University with a long record of accomplishment in reproductive biology and epigenetics. He has praised the accuracy of the AI-based deep learning model developed at WSU for identifying pathologies in tissue samples.

Jin Liu

A professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University. He has used AI models and molecular modeling to quickly identify and block a crucial molecular interaction that allows a herpes virus to enter cells.

Thomas May

The Floyd and Judy Rogers Endowed Professor and medical ethics program director in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University. He has discussed the ethical challenges surrounding the use of AI in medicine.

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What they’re saying

“The progress around AI has been extraordinarily fast. It is almost difficult to even keep track.”

— Assefaw Gebremedhin, Berry Family Distinguished Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and head of the Scalable Algorithms for Data Science Lab

“This AI-based deep learning program was very, very accurate at looking at these tissues. It could revolutionize this type of medicine for both animals and humans, essentially better facilitating these kinds of analysis.”

— Michael Skinner, Professor in the School of Biological Sciences

“It was just a single interaction from thousands of interactions. If we don't do the simulation and instead did this work by trial and error, it could have taken years to find.”

— Jin Liu, Professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

“A year or two of working in the garden was valued more than five or even 10 years of caring for her grandchildren - to her. It's that sort of emotional element that is unlikely to be reflected in AI data, which is much more likely to look at the number of life years that could be expected.”

— Thomas May, Floyd and Judy Rogers Endowed Professor and medical ethics program director in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

What’s next

The web-based cancer research tool developed by Assefaw Gebremedhin's lab is currently in the final stages of preparation for journal submission, which will make the benefits of this technology widely available in the global fight against cancer.

The takeaway

The rapid advancements in AI are transforming medical research and healthcare delivery at Washington State University, enabling scientists to accelerate the pace of scientific discoveries and potentially revolutionize disease detection and treatment. However, the increased use of AI in medicine also raises important ethical considerations that must be carefully addressed to ensure patient autonomy and equitable access to these innovative technologies.