Wednesday

Able to detect and classify new events in real time, large astrophysical transient surveys routinely map the night sky with unprecedented accuracy. However, the techniques developed to detect stellar explosions need not only be used in astronomical contexts.... Here, I will introduce, motivate and outline a real world example of how the methods used every day by astronomers can be utilised in a totally different area of science: medical research. Joining transient science, machine learning and clinical expertise from institutes across the UK (Southampton, Portsmouth, Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Birmingham, Leeds and CR:UK) we have developed a technique inspired by astronomy that will be applied to full body photography in a proof-of-concept study to detect and track the evolution of skin lesions. Combining astronomy and clinical expertise, this project is just the beginning: this framework could ultimately lead to the early detection of skin cancer.