Research summary
Biomedical research increasingly relies on massive datasets, yet many analysis tasks still require manual curation—a process that is time-consuming and unsustainable at scale. As Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Citizen Science, Dr. Jerome Waldispühl is exploring how digital communities can fill this gap by harnessing the power of citizen science and the video game industry.
He and his research team are collaborating with game developers to create platforms that engage players in analyzing complex biomedical data, particularly in the fields of antimicrobial resistance and cancer. By transforming data-cleaning tasks into interactive experiences, this approach taps into a vast, underused human resource while advancing public engagement in science. The goal is to accelerate metagenomics research and improve the reliability of artificial intelligence tools used in health care. Ultimately, Waldispühl’s research offers a new model for open, scalable biomedical research that benefits both the scientific community and society as a whole.