Project Status

To recap, the project has both a development aspect to it to implement a working grid to support the research and enable the collection and use of mammography data and also a research track where innovative techniques will be developed in software engineering and medical imaging, as well as performing initial studies into the suitability of such hardware and software for the Breast Screening Programme. The project involves academic, commercial and clinical partners and aims to deliver grid technology and applications to support mammography medical imaging and in particular the role of the radiologist in the Breast Screening Programme.

A. Development Strand

The development activity was split into 3 phases:

Phase 1 - Delivery of a proof of concept of architecture design, a 1 node grid utilising developed grid services, DB2, IBM Content Manager and OGSA-DAI. This was completed on time and demonstrated at the All Hands in September 2003. This was not only a success in terms of proving the technology but also strengthened the team.

Phase 2 - Delivery of data acquisition capability from the digitisation of cases to storage on the grid. This software is now being shipped in March 2004 on our data acquisition workstations to each of our clinical partners following extensive testing and refinement (delayed). Delivery of a multi node grid based on the proof of concept delivered to the 4 clinical partners, with a central test infrastructure. We are nearing completion of this work ready for shipping of grid nodes in April/May 2004. Delivery of a refined screening application. A refined screening application has been delivered and will be available for review on the data acquisition workstations from March 2004.

Phase 3 - Delivery of refined applications including the grid enabled screening and workflow, an annotation service and training applications

B. Research Strand

Clinical Research areas to include

• Development and research into use of data mining tools
• Development and research into the use of standardisation techniques for medical images
• Research into suitability of grid technology and eDiaMoND framework for epidemiological studies
• Studies into the design of systems for the selected domain
• Research into the applicability of CAD tools and their place in the screening process

Technical Research areas to include

• Research into database design for handling medical images
• Research into requirements management for large complex clinical projects
• Research into security requirements for health systems
• Research into the health service domain and the requirements for deploying systems for the NHS
• Research into flexible access controls for such systems
• Research into federation techniques as well as current and planned middleware activity
• Research into the suitability of the hardware and systems for the domain

May 2004 Successes

• Architecture proof of concept exercise a success in terms of technology delivery and working as a collaborative multi-disciplinary team
• Delivery of federated architecture services ready for deployment including complex semi-automated builds
• Delivery of service wrappers to enable data mining tools to be available on the grid
• Impressive Data acquisition software integrated with the core dataset definition for eDiaMoND and the data load for the grid
• Delivery of grid and mammo-viewer APIs to enable application developers to build their specific applications for the grid with a supporting workshop to commence the process
• Delivery of a refined Screening application with image marking capability
• Delivery of a training application architecture design
• MREC awaiting final letter - we battled the legal and ethical minefield !
• Delivery of data mining services to:
  • - segment a mass given an outline from a radiologist
  • - represent texture inside the contour drawn by the radiologist
  • - define shape of a contour hand-drawn by a radiologist
• Definition of a security policy for the project following analysis of assets and threats
• Extensive domain knowledge including links with national and international activities
• Publications and PR