SIG-AFRICAI
Special Interest Group on the African Network for Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging
Mission
The primary mission of the Special Interest Group on the African Network for Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging (SIG-AFRICAI) is to connect researchers and all stakeholders interested in MICCAI related research in Africa, and to increase research output and activities at MICCAI addressing real-world challenges and applications within Africa. To this end, we will regularly organise discussions, exchanges of ideas and results, webinars and training events, mentorship and other MICCAI related activities for Africa. All researchers and stakeholders from all over the world, including within and outside Africa, are welcomed to join the SIG-AFRICAI. We look forward to collaborating with you to address medical imaging challenges that will enhance access to healthcare across the African continent and beyond.
Goals
- Foster Collaboration among African and International Researchers:
○ Connect African and international researchers, postdocs, students, residents, AI developers, innovators, radiologists, other clinicians, and institutions working in the field of AI for biomedical imaging applications.
- Boost African Participation at MICCAI:
○ Increase the number of African researchers participating in MICCAI, by raising awareness and supporting submissions to MICCAI and its satellite events. - Enhance availability of African Medical Image Datasets:
○ Support initiatives such as challenges that will provide access to curated and public real-world medical image datasets from Africa. - Enhance Access to Educational Opportunities:
○ Organize and support tutorials, workshops, and summer schools to encourage increased participation from Africa in MICCAI events.
Board Members
President: Karim Lekadir, University of Barcelona and Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
Vice-President: Marawan Elbatel, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR
Treasurer: Udunna Anazodo, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada / Medical Artificial Intelligence Lab, Lagos, Nigeria
Open Science & Data Chairs
Yunusa Muhammed, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria
Xiaomeng Li, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR
Kaouther Mouheb, Biomedical Imaging Group Rotterdam, Dept. of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Educational Chairs
Marawan Elbatel, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR
Hasnae Zerouaoui, College of Computing, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco
Jean-Rassaire Fouefack, MAIA Medical Technologies, France
Azade Frashad, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
Raymond Confidence, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Communications & Events Managers
Cecilia Kessler
Fleur Meijers
AFRICAI Advisory Board
Julia Schnabel, Helmholtz Munich And Technical University of Munich, Germany
Tinashe Mutsvangwa, IMT Atlantique, Brest, France; University of Cape Town, South Africa
Celia Cintas, IBM Research Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
Activities
Ongoing
MIRASOL Workshop (Sept 27, 2025)
A full-day workshop on Medical Image Computing in Resource-Constrained Settings (MIRASOL & KI), bringing together researchers to discuss methods, datasets, and collaborations tailored for low-resource environments. Link: https://event.fourwaves.com/mirasol/pages
AFRICAI Webinars & Workshops
Regular sessions to engage the African research community, promote knowledge sharing, and build capacity in AI for biomedical imaging.
Link: https://africai.org/category/seminars/
AFRICAI Journal Club
Bi-weekly paper presentations with opportunities for networking and recognition (including €150 Best AFRICAI Journal Club Award).
Submission form: https://forms.gle/gomSTmFqgaPoQrqi7
Mentorship Awards
Ongoing support for African students, including mentorship, paper preparation guidance, and funding to attend MICCAI 2026.
Link: https://africai.org/support/
Past Events
MICCAI Meets AFRICA Workshop at MICCAI 2024 – October 6, 2024
A dedicated workshop focused on fostering collaboration between African researchers and the MICCAI community.
From MICCAI to AFRICAI Session and Networking Event – October 9, 2024
A session to discuss African-specific challenges and gather suggestions on bridging MICCAI and AFRICAI initiatives.