The exquAIro Inspiration Day on November 14, 2025 brought together clinicians, researchers, and AI experts in Groningen for a day of inspiration and innovation. We also hosted special guests: our sponsors, who support us on our journey to help researchers make breakthroughs with AI. The event showcased how artificial intelligence is becoming a driving force for medical breakthroughs and how exquAIro continues to build the bridge between clinical expertise and AI-driven discovery. The symposium also featured the announcement of this year’s exquAIro Pilot Grant, awarded to Prof. Eugene Berezikov for his pioneering work combining novel RNA sequencing technology with AI to predict survival outcomes in lung cancer patients.
From wheezing infants to cardiac AI: innovation across disciplines
The morning sessions offered a tour through the diverse landscape of biomedical AI. From the development of diagnostic tests for asthma in wheezing infants to novel approaches for cardiovascular risk prediction using NMR spectroscopy, each talk revealed how data-driven science is reshaping medicine. Attendees also heard about the Lifeliness Next cohort study, new insights in AI and cardiology, and emerging applications of large language models in medicine.
“Medical breakthroughs are waiting. We just need to boost medical minds with AI,” said Prof. Gerard Koppelman, co-founder of exquAIro. “Our mission is to empower the next generation of clinician-scientists to use AI as a tool for discovery and better patient care.”
Eugene Berezikov receives this year’s Pilot Grant for advancing AI-enabled survival prediction in lung cancer patients
The symposium concluded with the exquAIro Pilot Grant Award ceremony, made possible by the Postcode Lottery Group. The award was presented by Michiel Verboven, CCO of the Postcode Lottery Group, and Prof. Gerard Koppelman, Chair of the exquAIro Foundation. As part of our mission to educate clinician-scientists, supporting AI-driven research programs, and providing funding, exquAIro offers two types of grants to participants of its bootcamps. PILOT grants (€50–75k) fund projects that generate AI proof-of-concept data, while the larger IMPACT grants (up to €1M, funded by external sources) aim to deliver tangible health benefits through improved diagnostics or targeted treatments.
This year’s exquAIro Pilot Grant was awarded to Prof. dr. Eugene Berezikov (UMCG) for his project: cf-RNA Predict: A novel cell-free RNA sequencing approach for lung cancer survival prediction. Professor. Dr. Eugene Berezikov is a group leader at the European Institute for the Biology of Aging (ERIBA) and a participant of the second Biomedical AI bootcamp of exquAIro. ERIBA is a research institute of the UMCG.
The project investigates how tumor-derived RNA circulating in blood can be used to accurately predict survival outcomes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While the approach has clear prognostic aims, the insights gained may also contribute to the development of future diagnostic applications. Importantly, the project does not rely on AI alone. It leverages SmartComplete, a novel, highly efficient RNA-sequencing method recently developed by Berezikov’s team. SmartComplete enables sensitive detection of a broad spectrum of RNA species from minimal input material, offering a more comprehensive molecular portrait than conventional cfRNA methods. Combining this advanced sequencing technology with state-of-the-art machine-learning approaches, the study aims to analyze 1,000 patient samples to build robust models for survival prediction.
Clear clinical potential
The review committee praised the project for its strong scientific foundation, innovation, and clear clinical potential. “If this pilot project meets its objectives, it will pave the way for larger grants with significant impact for patients,” the reviewers noted.
The project will also receive support from Rewire, which will provide a research trainee to collaborate on the application of AI models to the newly generated data. Eugene Berezikov on receiving the grant: “I am truly honoured to receive the exquAIro Pilot Grant. This support allows us to explore how the combination of advanced RNA sequencing and AI can transform prognostication in lung cancer. While our primary goal is survival prediction, the technology has broad potential to support future diagnostic innovations as well. Collaborating with exquAIro and the broader AI and medical community is an incredible opportunity to turn innovative ideas into real-world impact.”
“I am truly honoured to receive the exquAIro Pilot Grant. This support allows us to explore how the combination of advanced RNA sequencing and AI can transform prognostication in lung cancer. While our primary goal is survival prediction, the technology has broad potential to support future diagnostic innovations as well.”
Eugene Berezikov
Source text: exquAiro
Pictures by Jan Buwalda