“The Evolutionary Interstitial Lung Simulation tool uses AI algorithms”
TECNALIA has presented the first AI prototype in Spain to anticipate the evolution of interstitial lung diseases
Bellvitge University Hospital has received the first AI-based prototype capable of simulating the future evolution of interstitial lung diseases, a pioneering advance in the National Health System. The tool, called SEPI-IA (Interstitial Pulmonary Evolutionary Simulation using Artificial Intelligence), has been developed by TECNALIA, Cella Medical and San Carlos Clinical Hospital.
- SEPI-IA is the first National Health’s system that is capable of individually simulating the evolution of these pathologies at one, two and three years, enabling specialists to anticipate damage before it becomes irreversible.
- TECNALIA’s Health and Digital teams have developed this innovative solution to respond to the need for a technology that enables early diagnosis and personalised precision treatment of Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases (DILDs).
Technology that transforms the diagnosis
The prototype uses AI algorithms for high-resolution computed tomography analysis, detecting and quantifying lesions that are invisible to the human eye and representing them through colour-coded maps. This capability improves diagnostic accuracy, estimates the progression of rare lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and optimises therapeutic management for each patient as soon as they are diagnosed, facilitating better targeted therapies and more effective monitoring of disease progression.
TECNALIA has provided key technology in the development of this advanced solution, integrating medical image analysis techniques and predictive models aimed at improving future clinical practice.
Official event to hand over the prototype
The official handover of the SEPI-IA prototype took place at Bellvitge University Hospital, in a ceremony led by the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant; together with the Minister for Health of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Olga Pané Mena; the General Secretary for Innovation, Teresa Riesgo; and the Director of the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), José Moisés Martín Carretero, among other important figures.
- During the ceremony, the minister stressed that this project shows a firm commitment to innovation that “improves people’s lives” and reinforces the capability of the Spanish health system to lead the medicine of the future.
- The event was also attended by the CDTI, Catalan Health Institute managers, professionals from Bellvitge Hospital and representatives of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), who will validate the tool in a real clinical environment.
A strategic tool for public health
SEPI-IA is a major breakthrough – especially for minority lung diseases that are often diagnosed at advanced stages – as there is a lack of validated solutions that are capable of simulating the individualised evolution of these pathologies in the national health system.
With this initiative, TECNALIA has strengthened its commitment to the development of technology that transforms the healthcare system, creating solutions that improve diagnostic precision, optimise medical decision-making and contribute to the well-being of citizens.
* SEPI-IA is a Public Procurement of Innovation “Pre-commercial procurement of R&D services for the development of an Interstitial Pulmonary Evolutionary Simulation programme using Artificial Intelligence (SEPI-IA)” initiative funded with own funds by the CDTI and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), in the framework of the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union - NextgenerationEU.