ASPIRE

ASPIRE is an artificial intelligence–powered software developed to detect malarial retinopathy via a low-cost, portable, and user-friendly system. Malarial retinopathy is a sign of cerebral malaria, which kills thousands of children in sub-Saharan Africa every year. Clinics throughout Africa are using ASPIRE to diagnose malarial retinopathy and ensure that children receive appropriate medical care. To use ASPIRE, a medical technician first captures an image of the retina with a smartphone-based retinal camera. Next, the onboard AI-based software processes the image to detect malarial retinopathy. Finally, the system exhaustively analyzes the image to produce an accurate and accessible result for the technician. ASPIRE provides clinicians with a highly specific, rapid, and fully automated diagnosis of malarial retinopathy and assists them with patient prioritization and care.