Revolution in pediatric oncology: AI systems for better treatments!

Revolution in pediatric oncology: AI systems for better treatments!

On June 25, 2025, a groundbreaking workshop took place under the leadership of Dominik Schöndorf, an expert in pediatric oncology at Saarland University Hospital. The aim of this workshop was to develop an AI-supported home monitoring system for children with cancer. The initiative aims to identify medical needs early and address them before emergencies occur. This is intended to significantly improve the quality of treatment and have a positive impact on the living situation of the affected families at home.

Thanks to innovative technologies such as data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, variable parameters in the home environment are to be linked with clinical expertise. Such systems can identify potential warning signs, such as changes in children's vital signs, behavior or relevant environmental factors. This early detection could be crucial to initiate appropriate medical measures in a timely manner. Wübben Foundation reports that the results of the workshop will be converted into a pilot initiative.

Experts and moderators

The workshop attracted numerous experts from various institutions who accompanied the discussion. The participating experts included representatives from the DFKI Competence Center for Ambient Assisted Living, the Ludwig Boltzmann Society, as well as the Charité and the Brain Tumor Institute of the Children's National Hospital in the USA. Some moderators such as Mridul Agrawal (iuvando Health GmbH) and Gabriela Gan (Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft) led through the events, while State Secretary David Lindemann welcomed the participants.

Interdisciplinary collaboration emphasizes the importance of expertise from different areas in developing effective healthcare solutions. The use of AI technologies is identified as key to improving the efficiency and quality of medical care. However, concerns regarding the traceability and trust in the AI ​​applications must also be taken into account. PMC emphasizes that AI is already established, particularly in internal medicine, and its technologies are showing progress in a wide range of application areas.

The role of artificial intelligence in healthcare

A key concern when implementing AI is maintaining interaction between patients and healthcare professionals. The aim is to use AI as a supporting tool, not a replacing one. Outstanding applications can be found, for example, in monitoring glucose levels in diabetes or in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. AI-supported systems offer valuable help even in intensive care medicine or infectiology. Federal Medical Association shows that the integration of corresponding systems requires technical infrastructure and the consideration of data protection aspects.

Overall, the workshop under Schöndorf offers the opportunity to take important steps in pediatric oncology and shows how technological progress can help revolutionize medical care for children with cancer.