Department of Gastroenterology at LSMU with partners from Japan start to implement an AI project aimed to enhanced endoscopic technics for Early Gastric Cancer Diagnostics

On March 8–12, 2025, project partners from Japan visited Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The research team included representatives from Tokai University School of Medicine Prof. Hidekazu Suzuki, Assoc. Prof. Masaya Sano, Dr. Takahiro Kikuchi as well as Assoc. Prof. Hideki Mori from Keio University School of Medicine.

During the visit, the Japanese researchers, met with Rector of LSMU, Prof. Rimantas Benetis and Head of the LSMU Department of Gastroenterology and Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Juozas Kupčinskas. The meeting focused on the significance of the project for the university, opportunities for international collaboration, and other promising strategic directions for future research.

Since 2025, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) has been successfully implementing the research project “Bilateral comparison of accuracy of gastric cancer risk screening using image-intensified and artificial intelligence-assisted endoscopy” (No. S-LJB-25-2). The aim of the project is to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool that could improve the early detection of gastric cancer during endoscopic examinations.

Japan has one of the highest incidences of gastric cancer worldwide. The country has maintained a national gastric cancer screening program for many years, making the experience of Japanese specialists in endoscopic diagnostics particularly valuable. During their visit, the guests attended the Endoscopy Unit of the LSMU Department of Gastroenterology, where they observed complex endoscopic procedures and discussed advanced diagnostic techniques.

The Japanese delegation also visited the LSMU Institute for Digestive Research, where institute scientists presented their ongoing research on organoids related to inflammatory bowel diseases. Additional potential directions for future collaboration were also discussed during the visit.

To mark the visit of the Japanese partners, an international conference titled “Lithuanian–Japan Symposium on Gastrointestinal Inflammation” was organized. During the conference, researchers shared their experience with the implementation of gastric cancer screening programs in Japan, discussed possibilities for developing similar initiatives in European Union countries, and presented the latest innovations in endoscopic diagnostics.

This project and international collaboration strengthen the scientific activities of LSMU and contribute to the development of advanced diagnostic technologies that may help detect gastric cancer earlier and improve patient outcomes in the future.