Microsoft is setting its sights on treating cancer in the next 10 years with the aid of computers.
The computer-assisted cancer treatment could be 10 years down the road but this early, Microsoft has interesting info on how they plan to achieve this. The company is looking at embedding minute DNA computers inside the human body. Once inside the patient’s system, the computer will track and then reprogram cancer cells so each will return to a normal, healthy state.
Microsoft’s Chris Bishop was not surprised when the company decided to pursue such project. After all, the company is a leading player in the computer technology sector. Moreover, he reminded that cancer is a disease that is computational in nature.
The company recently formed teams tasked to conduct various cancer researches. Most of the members are experts in the field of biology or computer technology and have come from countries across the globe.
One of the teams will be employing computers to gather data from images. This approach seeks to aid radiologists gain a deeper knowledge of the various stages of the disease.
A second team will be using algorithms that will help design a plan of attack that is specific for each type of tumour.
Still, another group will attempt to produce mini-computers that will track and reprogram diseased cells within the patient’s body.
The goal is that whenever a cancer cell is produced by the patient, the mini computers are alerted and subsequently react by rebooting. This action clears out the bad cells from the patient’s system.
While each team had a different take on how to achieve their goals, their approaches point to a common agenda – to incorporate data processing and machine learning into their plans.
Some outsiders feel that it would be difficult to achieve Microsoft’s goal within a brief, 10-year timeframe but majority of researchers believe otherwise.
Ten years is still far into the horizon and there is no telling whether or not Microsoft will come up with a sure-fire treatment for cancer using its approaches. But for cancer patients, the company’s latest mission gives enough encouragement to hope for the best.
