Teen Innovators Create Groundbreaking App for Early Mouth Cancer Detection, Securing $50K for Their School!

A group of innovative high school students is turning heads with their groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle a serious health concern: oral cancer. These young minds have created the Oral Scan app, which utilizes a simple smartphone photo to detect potential signs of this deadly disease. With an impressive 82% success rate, the app can even identify the stage of cancer with an accuracy of 87% if a tumor is detected. This is a remarkable achievement for a team of teenagers, especially considering the urgent need for early diagnosis in their community.

Tackling a Deadly Disease

Each year, 52,000 Americans receive a diagnosis of oral cancer, leading to over 12,000 deaths. Early detection is crucial; it can increase survival rates by up to 40%. Unfortunately, only 30% of oral cancers are diagnosed early. This issue is exacerbated in areas known as dental deserts, where access to dental care is severely limited. In Arkansas, for instance, a staggering 90% of residents did not visit a dentist last year, leaving many without the critical screenings they need.

Key Statistics:
- 52,000 new cases of oral cancer annually
- 12,000 fatalities each year
- Only 30% are detected early
- 90% of Arkansans skipped dental visits last year

A Revolutionary App for Everyone

The team, including Bentonville West High School student Veera Unnam, realized that existing diagnostic methods are often costly, invasive, and inaccurate. This led to the development of Oral Scan, a user-friendly app that diagnoses potential oral cancer for just 50 cents and provides results in 15 seconds. The app is designed for global accessibility, compatible with both Apple and Android devices, showcasing the team’s commitment to making a difference not just in Arkansas but worldwide.

Competing for Change

Recently, the Oral Scan team entered the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. This initiative encourages public school students to leverage their STEM skills to solve real-world challenges. Each finalist school receives $50,000 in technology and supplies, with an opportunity to compete for additional prizes. The competition culminates in a live event in Washington, DC on April 28. Samsung has contributed over $27 million to nearly 4,000 public schools through this program, and the Oral Scan team hopes to be among this year’s winners.

Spreading the Word

As the team awaits the competition results, their app has already garnered national attention, leading to invitations to present at medical conferences. Their innovative approach is paving the way for better health outcomes and raising awareness about the importance of early detection of oral cancer.

For more about how AI is revolutionizing cancer detection, check out these articles:

Watch the students’ pitch video below to see their dedication in action!

Let’s support these enterprising public health champions and share their inspiring story!

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