Microb-AI-ome Vision
Federated artificial intelligence for privacy-preserving colorectal cancer research
Microb-AI-ome explores how artificial intelligence and microbiome science can support smarter, more precise, and privacy-preserving colorectal cancer screening.
Why does this matter?
340,000+
colorectal cancer cases in Europe every year
156,000
deaths linked to colorectal cancer in Europe
€20 billion
estimated annual economic burden
37.4%
unnecessary colonoscopies after positive FIT tests
The challenge
Important microbiome data exists, but it remains fragmented
Colorectal cancer screening often relies on FIT testing to predict whether a colonoscopy is needed. However, many patients still undergo invasive procedures that ultimately do not detect cancer.
At the same time, valuable microbiome datasets remain distributed across institutions and countries, making integration difficult under strict privacy regulations.
Current barriers
- Isolated national datasets
- Strict privacy requirements
- Limited large-scale AI training
- Need for more precise screening tools
How it works
Federated AI: the model travels, the data stays protected
1
Local databases
Clinical and microbiome data remain securely stored at local institutions.
2
Federated learning
AI models learn across distributed datasets without centralising sensitive data.
3
Smarter screening
The resulting tools aim to improve colorectal cancer stratification and screening.
A future where colorectal cancer screening becomes smarter
Microb-AI-ome combines microbiome science, artificial intelligence, and European collaboration to support more precise, privacy-aware, and patient-centred colorectal cancer screening.
Meet the consortium