The University of Pretoria (UP)’s Dr Kathryn Malherbe, has made South Africa proud after being internationally recognised for her ground-breaking innovation , Breast AI, by the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance Conference (G20-DIAC). The G20 conference is one of the most eminent gatherings held alongside the fourth meeting of the ‘Digital Economy Working Group’ which took place this year from 17-19 August at the Bangalore Palace in India.
Objectives of the G20-DIAC
The G20-DIAC’S aim is to provide a platform where innovators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, corporates, investors, mentors, etc. from its member and guest countries can engage and foster collaborations. It also supports start-ups developing innovative digital solutions which bridge the digital divide and promote global economic growth, while striving to reduce disparities, promote inclusivity and forge partnerships among G20 member countries.
Best Female Founder Award
Dr Malherbe received the Best Female Founder award for her cutting-edge creation, Breast AI. The award gives recognition to pioneers who offer digital solutions to a range of global economies. Breast AI is an artificial neural network that empowers ultrasound imaging to detect, segment and predict breast cancer even in remote settings, utilising a wireless Wi-Fi ultra-sound probe. It was chosen as winner from 140 small, medium and micro-enterprises at the G20 conference. The recognition demonstrates that SA can be counted among the best in the digital space.
A radiographer by profession and a lecturer in the UP’s department of radiography, Dr Malherbe rubbed shoulders with an array of dignitaries in the global digital landscape during the August
G20. SA’s Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Mondli Gungubele, as one of the early investors in Dr Malherbe’s invention was on hand to support her. “I am glad to have received international recognition on such an esteemed platform as the G20, with our Minister of Digital Technology, Minister Gungubele, there to support us,” Malherbe said during her acceptance speech. Her innovation will certainly make a huge contribution towards the search for a cure for breast cancer in women.
A radiographer by profession and a lecturer in the UP’s department of radiography, Dr Malherbe rubbed shoulders with an array of dignitaries in the global digital landscape during the August
G20. SA’s Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Mondli Gungubele, as one of the early investors in Dr Malherbe’s invention was on hand to support her. “I am glad to have received international recognition on such an esteemed platform as the G20, with our Minister of Digital Technology, Minister Gungubele, there to support us,” Malherbe said during her acceptance speech. Her innovation will certainly make a huge contribution towards the search for a cure for breast cancer in women.
Promoting community education with Breast AI innovation
The Breast AI innovation is being rolled across local healthcare facilities in SA. It is hailed for its practical applications and has been successfully implemented at local Unjani clinics. The technology also helps to promote community education and patient navigators. More significantly, it reduces the time women in rural settings have to wait for surgical intervention in cases of breast cancer.
“We are not only deploying AI tech, we are also promoting community education and patient navigators through community healthcare workers to assist in the entire treatment pathway,” says Dr Malherbe. What makes her accolade such a rare feat is the fact that she is the only SA female using AI in medical imaging.
Inspiration Young Women
Dr Malherbe says her future plans entail using her achievements to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare sphere. In addition, she wants to make sure she creates opportunities for more women to follow in her footsteps. More importantly, she intends to use her success to inspire young women entrepreneurs and innovators to embrace research as a driving force. She also believes in the centrality of research, saying it was through research that her innovation won her the award. Her advice to those who aspire to make a global impact is: “Find your passion, and you’ll never work a day in your life. The joy of living and working your passion is an everyday occurrence and an absolute joy to attain.”
