Husband of New Jersey woman with incurable brain tumor talks about her decision to end her life
59-year-old Robin Granat is dying from an incurable brain tumor. She wanted to end her life with a lethal drug, but a legal dispute thwarted her plans.
Amy Newman, North Jersey
Jay Patel and Rudra Patel are not related – but they have the same last name, live in the same city and go to the same school.
The two, who live in Elmwood Park and studied together at Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, also share a passion for machine learning, research and medicine.
They used this passion to develop an app that enables instant diagnosis of brain tumors.
Jay Patel said the app is designed for laptops and will be available in spring next year. He and his former classmate will gather feedback from test users before releasing the app.
Someone who has had an MRI scan of their brain can upload the images to the app. The app then uses an artificial intelligence method known as a convolutional neural network – where a computer processes data similarly to the human brain – which analyzes the images to identify what type of brain tumor is seen on the MRI. The app then offers an image of the identified tumor.
“We realized there was a growing need for an app (like this) in our community because consultation fees for most neurosurgeons are high, socioeconomic inequality is increasing, and there are relatively few neurosurgeons in poorer and more rural areas,” said Jay Patel, 16, a rising senior. Rudra Patel, 18, graduated in June.
Their research found that in the United States, the average wait time to see a neurosurgeon and discuss the results of an MRI scan is 103 days. They also found that in 2023, 24,810 cases of brain tumors were diagnosed, there was only one neurosurgeon per 60,000 people, and consultation fees for an MRI scan range from $200 to $500.
Patel said the app does not replace GPs, but rather it can be a tool to help determine, through instant diagnosis, which patients have serious tumours that require immediate treatment and which are benign.
Patel said he surveyed doctors and found that they were so overbooked that they concluded this app could help narrow down which patients should be given priority.
Both Patels have completed a research paper outlining how NeuroScan works, and plan to present the work virtually this month at a conference organized by India’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
The duo has also assembled a team of 150 volunteers around the world who will help market the device, including through appearances on podcasts and social media posts.
Patel said he was proud of his and Rudra’s efforts to create something of vital importance for others.
“It’s been challenging, but at the end of the day, it’s really rewarding when you realize that your app could potentially have an impact on the people who use it and completely change their lives,” Patel said.
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news in your local community, subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ricardokaul
