Single-Center vs Multi-Center Studies: What We’ve Learned About Scaling Imaging AI | Segmed Experts
From Proof-of-Concept to Scale Over the past ten years, artificial intelligence (AI) has progressed from research-oriented prototypes to clinical decision support systems in medical imaging. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved more than a thousand AI/ML-assisted medical devices , the majority of which are imaging-based. The early successes of imaging AI often begin in the highly resourceful academic setting. A research team, often affiliated with a leading technical university, collaborates with a renowned academic medical center. The purpose of this collaboration is to leverage a carefully curated retrospective dataset precisely matching the target application of the AI model. These datasets usually have structured reporting, uniform imaging protocols, stable scanner configurations, and relatively complete metadata. In such controlled settings, model development is rapid as datasets are easily standardized and clinical outcomes are well-defined. Internal validat...