Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa is testing an AI-driven lab platform that aims to quickly tailor treatments for people with multiple myeloma. By running patients’ biopsy samples through a battery of medicines, the system is designed to shrink long stretches of trial-and-error decision making into a turnaround of just days.
How the lab test works
Moffitt’s Ex Vivo Mathematical Myeloma Advisor, or EMMA, takes patient-derived myeloma cells, exposes them to a panel of 31 drugs, and records live images every 30 minutes for roughly five days, according to Moffitt Cancer Center.
Mathematical models then combine those images with clinical and genomic data to generate three‑month response predictions and ranked therapy recommendations that clinicians can use when building a care plan.
Faster answers, not replaced doctors
As reported by FOX 13 News, the platform can compress what once required years of data collection into hours and provide actionable information in about six days to help shape treatment decisions.
"Something that would take us five years to do for a thousand patients takes us hours now," Dr. Ken Shain told FOX 13.
Privacy and consent
Researchers say they are validating the platform using protected patient records and multi-layer privacy controls before considering a broader rollout.
Senior researcher Ariosto Silva urged patients to consent to sharing their biopsy samples and clinical history, saying participation "makes a big difference," as reported by FOX 13 News.
Published science behind the tool
The EMMA approach is grounded in peer-reviewed research. A 2017 paper in Cancer Research by Moffitt authors described an ex vivo platform that could predict patient responses to as many as 31 agents within days.
Moffitt reports that the system has since been incorporated into investigator-initiated trials and expanded with philanthropic support for the Pentecost Family Myeloma Research Center, according to Moffitt Cancer Center.
What patients in Tampa should know
For patients, the near-term promise is less guesswork and more tailored options, though doctors stress that EMMA is a decision-support tool that still needs broader validation and regulatory review before it can become widely available.
Experts also note that scaling this kind of testing will depend on continued research and data sharing, as outlined in a recent review of ex vivo response platforms from MDPI, which detailed assay formats, clinical correlation and the next steps for bringing such tools into routine cancer care.
