On March 4, 2025, Columbia University hosted its inaugural AI Summit, a day-long series of events gathering the university's extensive expertise in artificial intelligence across neuroscience, medicine, social work, engineering, and the arts. The expert panel "AI for Cancer Care: From Cells to Systems," held at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explored how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of cancer research, screening, and treatment.

Noémie Elhadad, PhD, chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics, began the session, setting the stage for a discussion on AI’s transformative role in oncology, especially in prediction, early detection, and new treatments. She also introduced the AI Initiatives at VP&S and all the activities happening as part of the initiative Following her introduction, Raul Rabadan, PhD, delivered a talk emphasizing the unprecedented opportunities AI presents for cancer research. “We are in a very exciting moment in cancer research,” he stated, pointing to the power of large datasets that have moved AI in cancer research from the descriptive to the predictive.

Looking ahead, Rabadan underscored the opportunities for AI in scaling up beyond current limitations and integrating and connecting data modalities. He noted that progress depends on multidisciplinary collaboration and called for teams that bring together both quantitative and experimental researchers to shape the next generation of cancer scientists.

Following Rabadan’s talk, Gamze Gursoy, PhD, moderated the expert panel, which opened with an overview by Anil Rustgi, MD, Herbert and Florence Irving Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC). Rustgi described AI’s role in cancer research, spanning discovery science, translational medicine, and clinical care, and advocated for expanding the benefits of AI to earlier detection of cancer.

“Can we take these aspects of AI and have an impact on cancer screening and cancer surveillance?” Rustgi asked. He also addressed the need for AI to be applied in practical, scalable ways, emphasizing, “We have to marry AI with very practical healthcare considerations at a societal level.”

The panel then delved into key AI applications in cancer care:

The session ended with the expert panel looking forward to the future of AI in cancer research and care over the next decade. Rustgi reiterated the HICCC's commitment to integrating AI in cancer research, emphasizing the importance of fostering multidisciplinary teams to leverage AI in addressing significant challenges in cancer research, ultimately aiming to have the most substantial impact on patients.

In closing, Rabadan shared his enthusiasm for what the future holds for AI in cancer research. "It’s a revolution," said Rabadan, "and this is the right moment to be here—in the middle of the revolution."