Healthcare insurer WellPoint and Indiana University Simon Cancer Center are working together to develop commercial applications utilizing IBM's Watson artificial intelligence platform.
WellPoint and IBM had previously announced in September 2011 that WellPoint would develop and launch Watson-based products to help improve patient care through evidence-based healthcare.
Cancer center staff will develop recommendations on appropriate oncology-related clinical content and will help evaluate and test the specific tools that WellPoint plans to develop for the oncology field.
A team led by Dr. George Sledge Jr., professor of oncology, and Dr. Patrick Loehrer Sr., director of the cancer center, will offer guidance to help improve the treatment options provided to the physicians using the new technology and will also become early adopters in piloting the system.