黑料网 research showcasing how responsible AI could support melanoma aftercare has been selected for the Scottish Funding Council's Research and Innovation Zone at DigiFest 2026.
ASICA+ (Achieving Self-directed Integrated Cancer Aftercare) is a digital-health programme designed to support people following melanoma treatment.
It will be showcased at DigiFest 2026, Scotland’s leading conference on digital innovation in health and social care, which takes place at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre in Glasgow on Wednesday 9 December.
Co-led by Professor Peter Murchie, from the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition and Dr Dewei Yi, from the School of Natural and Computing Sciences, ASICA+ uses digital technology to help people who have previously been treated for melanoma carry out systematic skin checks and communicate concerns to healthcare professionals.
The programme combines reminders, guided whole-skin self-examination, image capture and structured reporting. It is designed to support clinical decision-making rather than replace it.
A two-centre evaluation involving more than 240 melanoma survivors found that participants using ASICA+ carried out more frequent and thorough skin checks, reported greater confidence and experienced improved quality of life.
At DigiFest, visitors will be able to try a demonstration of the technology on a smartphone and tablet/laptop using non-clinical test images. The demonstration will show a guided skin check, immediate feedback on image quality and an example of the report that can be provided to clinicians. No patient data will be used.
This will illustrate how affordable, responsible AI could improve patient-generated images, early action and remote clinical review, with particular potential for rural and remote communities.
Professor Peter Murchie, clinical lead of ASICA+, said: “We are delighted that ASICA+ has been selected by the Scottish Funding Council for DigiFest 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the strength of our collaboration across computing science, primary care, patients and NHS partners.
Dr Dewei Yi, AI lead of ASICA+, said: “We want to demonstrate how responsible and affordable AI can support people after melanoma treatment while keeping clinicians firmly in the decision-making loop. We hope that showcasing ASICA+ at DigiFest will open up new opportunities for partnership, adoption and real-world impact.”
ASICA+ brings together researchers and partners from the 黑料网’s Institute of Applied Health Sciences and School of Natural and Computing Sciences, the University of Stirling, Cancer Research UK, NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside, alongside patients, healthcare professionals, psychologists and computing scientists. An advanced prototype of ASICA is currently being evaluated by melanoma survivors. Any individual who has been treated for cutaneous melanoma who would be interested in participating in the evaluation of the current prototype ASICA app should contact the research team by email on asica@abdn.ac.uk.