The project, led by faculty members from Near East University’s Faculty of Engineering, utilizes an artificial intelligence (AI)-supported algorithm to analyze camera footage and identify Tasmanian Devils afflicted with cancer. The aggressive nature of these creatures makes it crucial to determine whether facial wounds are caused by cancer or natural factors.
The AI-driven algorithm, developed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Veysel Nurçin, Dr. Niyazi Şentürk, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elbrus Imanov from the Faculty of Engineering’s Biomedical Engineering and Computer Engineering departments, respectively, can effectively identify Tasmanian Devils with skin cancer through the analysis of camera footage.
The research, supported by ecologist Karen Fagg and wildlife biologist Sam Thalmann from the “Save the Tasmanian Devil” program, addresses the prevalence of an endemic form of cancer threatening Tasmanian Devils in recent years. Known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), this cancer primarily affects the face, mouth, and neck regions, spreading easily when the animals bite each other. First identified in 1996, DFTD can lead to the death of Tasmanian Devils within approximately six months.
The project not only aids in the swift detection of cancer in Tasmanian Devils but also contributes significantly to understanding how this disease spreads in the wild.
The Near East University’s research on AI-assisted cancer detection in Tasmanian Devils has garnered attention in Australia and New Zealand, with widespread coverage in prominent scientific publications such as Scimex and Cosmos Magazine. The detailed scientific article detailing the researchers’ work has been published by Csiro Publishing, one of Australia’s most prominent scientific publications.
