EndoKI

Kl-gestützte multimodale Diagnostik und stratifizierte Therapie für Endometriose (EndoKI)

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in girls and women, affecting 10–15% of women of childbearing age (50,000 cases per year in Bavaria) and leading to chronic symptoms and reduced fertility. The innovative approach of the EndoKI research project lies in integrating multimodal functional and structural non-invasive imaging (such as ultrasound (US), ultrasound elastography, and MRI) with artificial intelligence methods into a comprehensive 3D pelvis model, which is completed using intraoperative and postoperative data. This will enable, in the short term, the development of AI-assisted ultrasound for standard care and, in the medium term, a stratified, individualized functional imaging approach for faster diagnosis, more effective therapy selection, and AI-supported laparoscopic procedures for patients with endometriosis. Under the motto “by women for women”, the interdisciplinary project team brings together seven female experts from Bavaria’s leading universities in the fields of AI, surgical assistance systems, medical imaging and image processing, clinical expertise, and gender studies in the social sciences.

To deepen our understanding of endometriosis care, a qualitative ethnographic study is embedded within the project. This study explores the experiences and perspectives of patients, outpatient gynecologists, and researchers, with the goal of identifying the specific needs of those affected and improving diagnostic and treatment pathways.

The embedded study will be conducted by the Chair of Science, Technology, and Gender Studies.