SPARK Academy
Welcome
The SPARK Academy Team is happy to welcome you to our event website! Here you will find more information about the academy, our objectives, and our upcoming program, including schedule and instructors.
You will also be able to explore the content, apply to attend, and participate in the training events directly through this website.
Program Overview:
The Sprint AI Training for African Medical Imaging Knowledge Translation (SPARK) program is designed to train a new generation of African artificial intelligence (AI) experts in medical imaging who can train others. We use a case-based learning approach and collective intelligence from various related fields (radiology, medical physics, computer science, neurology/neurosurgery, and oncology) to rapidly turn AI knowledge into action.
The 2nd edition of SPARK Academy endorsed by MICCAI ran from April 1st to August 3rd, 2024. SPARK empowers African researchers to address health inequities by providing training in cutting-edge AI innovations for medical imaging. This free, case-based, hands-on training brought together passionate learners to create home-grown solutions for glioma diagnostics. Participants engaged in seminars on glioma imaging, image processing, and deep learning, culminating in the development of AI models for the 2024 MICCAI Brain Tumor Segmentation (BraTS) Challenge. This initiative showcased SPARK Academy's dedication to building technical capacity, fostering innovation, and strengthening collaborative networks that will create a sustainable impact in African healthcare through AI.
Objectives
The main objectives of SPARK Academy are:
Demonstrate knowledge of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) applications in medical imaging.
Demonstrate skills in designing, implementing, and evaluating ML and DL architectures for medical segmentation.
Exhibit proficiency in transferable research skills, including study design, execution, and dissemination, with a focus on academic writing, publications, and science communication.
Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams to develop innovative medical solutions.
Engage with the global AI imaging community to contribute to open-science initiatives.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2025 SPARK Academy, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be a radiology, neurology, neurosurgery, or oncology resident, or a graduate student in radiography, physics, engineering, or computer science at an African institution.
Intermediate to advanced programming experience is recommended but not required.
Ability to attend the full-day hackathon in person at one of the hackathon sites for all five days.
Commit up to 5 hours per week for the entire program duration.
Commitment to complete all program activities on time.
Access to a working laptop or desktop
A self-motivated team player.
Clinical or research experience with brain tumours is recommended but not required.
Application Process
The application to attend the 2025 SPARK Academy is open from January 14th to 31st, 2025.
To apply: see "Apply Now", complete and submit the application form.
Location
Hybrid event
Medical Artificial Intelligence (MAI) Lab
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact spark@mailab.io .
