Incentive award to TTL researchers

The researchers Vedad Hadziavdic and Fred Godtlibsen from Tromsø Telemedicine Laboratory received an incentive award during Forskningsdagene (National Science Week) in Tromsø. Photo; Jan Fredrik Frantzen, NST

Vedad Hadziavdic and Fred Godtlibsen work at the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine and the University of Tromsø respectively. They belong to a relatively new research community in telemedicine, and are working on innovations using technology and modern methods of analysis.

The Tromsø researchers are developing a method for automatic analysis of moles to detect cancer. According to TTO Nord (the Technology Transfer Office for commercialization of innovative ideas), which granted the award, this is such a good idea that the duo are being encouraged to continue their work through an incentive award of NOK 15,000.

Time-consuming today

For all forms of cancer, early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. When melanoma is suspected, today's method is for doctors to examine the shape, colour and structure and to carry out painstaking professional assessments. The work is time-consuming, and 95 per cent of all suspicious cases turn out not to be cancer.

To be tested in 2008

Is it possible to make the doctors' job easier by enabling them to examine the mole using an illuminated magnifying lens and combining this with a digital camera with wireless communication and a statistical analysis tool? And can a computer determine whether a mole is malignant or not? These key questions will be answered during 2008, when the automatic method of analysis is tested on patients. Only when these trials have been completed will the researchers know whether the idea is viable and can be commercialized.

Showcasing research in telemedicine

The two award winners believe that the recognition is important for the work being done at Tromsø Telemedicine Laboratory. They hope it will help to showcase the centre's telemedicine research:

- "For us, the prize is a wonderful motivation to continue work on something we have great faith in," comments Vedad Hadziavdic. His researcher colleague agrees:

- "This is also a confirmation that someone sees the value of what we are doing and believes that it is potentially useful," Fred Godtlibsen asserts.