Student and faculty researchers at Kennesaw State University are working to improve early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease using artificial intelligence. The project, led by Assistant Professor of Computer Science Chen Zhao, involves undergraduate student Dina Xu Callaway, whose personal experience with her grandfather’s memory loss inspired her interest in neurological health.
“I wanted to help people like him,” said Callaway, who is originally from Guizhou, China. “This project showed me that computer science can do more than just coding. It can make a real impact in healthcare.”
Callaway is part of Zhao’s Medical Vision Lab, where she contributes to a research initiative that applies deep learning models to integrate multiple sources of medical data for identifying early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The goal is to increase the accuracy and affordability of diagnoses.
“Dr. Zhao and Dina’s work exemplifies the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines the College of Computing and Software Engineering,” said Interim Dean Yiming Ji. “Their research demonstrates how data science and artificial intelligence can drive meaningful impact in human health, and it reflects the kind of forward-thinking inquiry we aim to cultivate at KSU.”
The team combines clinical data, MRI images, PET scans, and genetic indicators in their approach. By teaching AI models to process these datasets in stages, they aim to determine when additional imaging tests are necessary for a confident diagnosis—potentially reducing high-cost procedures for patients.
“An MRI alone can cost over $3,000 and a PET scan even more,” Zhao said. “If our model can identify cases where one scan is sufficient, it could significantly lower healthcare costs.”
Improved early detection may allow patients more time for treatment planning and symptom management—a key motivation for Callaway’s involvement.
Zhao noted the value of undergraduate participation in advanced research projects within his lab: “Dina is one of the most impressive undergraduate students I have worked with,” he said. “She has already started building neural networks during her freshman year, which is remarkable.”
Callaway also participates in the Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College at Kennesaw State University. She recently presented her findings at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by Oxford College of Emory University.
“It was exciting to see how AI can make healthcare more accessible at the conference,” she said. “You do not have to be in a specific location to use it. It opens new possibilities for patients and doctors.”
Looking ahead, Callaway hopes to further improve model accuracy and explore clinical applications while Zhao plans to seek support from the National Institutes of Health for expanding this work into medical settings.
