You can now help cancer researchers by playing this online game

Scientists are encouraging the public to play an online citizen science game to help with their latest cancer research.

AcCELLerate tasks users with tracing the outline of a series of fluorescent dye-stained tongue images which become increasingly complex, using their computer mouse or finger on a smartphone.

The project is designed to train a computer algorithm to recognise oral cancers in medical images, improving its ability to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells.

Dr Priyanka Bhosale, from King’s College London’s Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, said:

“I’m really excited that the public will be contributing to my work on oral cancer,”

“The outcomes of the public training the AI will help me assess tumour tissue samples in a faster and more reliable way.”

Over time, it is hoped the tool can be used to advance research into other cancers.

Over time, it is hoped the tool can be used to advance research into other cancers.

The game forms part of the Royal Society Summer Science 2021 event.

It can be found here.