FAIRFAX, VA (September 3, 2025) — The medical and scientific community has a new beacon of hope in the battle against adenomyosis and endometriosis, two notoriously elusive and debilitating gynecological disorders. Dr. Wendaline M. VanBuren, a distinguished radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been awarded the prestigious Dr. Scott C. Goodwin Grant for Adenomyosis. This significant grant from the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Foundation will fund her groundbreaking project, “Endo-Deep: An AI-Powered Model for Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Adenomyosis and Endometriosis,” a study slated to transform diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to these challenging conditions.
Adenomyosis and endometriosis are complex and multifactorial conditions characterized by the ectopic presence of endometrial tissue causing chronic pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and infertility. These diseases often evade timely diagnosis due to nonspecific symptomatology and limited imaging accuracy, contributing to a delay averaging a decade before definitive diagnosis. The Endo-Deep project seeks to bridge this gap through the integration of advanced artificial intelligence into medical imaging, leveraging deep learning algorithms to improve detection, lesion segmentation, and treatment personalization.
Dr. VanBuren’s research stands at the forefront of a technological renaissance in radiology—melding AI’s capabilities with high-resolution imaging modalities to discern subtle pathological variations associated with adenomyosis and endometriosis. The Endo-Deep model aims to create a multifunctional diagnostic pipeline capable of not only identifying disease presence but also estimating the disease burden with unprecedented precision. Such granular insights promise to refine prognosis and tailor interventions, thus potentially reducing morbidity and enhancing the quality of life for millions of affected women worldwide.
The scope of the study includes rigorous validation of the AI-powered model across multiple clinical sites beyond the Mayo Clinic, broadening its applicability and robustness. Additionally, the model integrates segmentation techniques essential for delineating lesion boundaries, a crucial step in planning interventional radiology (IR)-guided therapies. These interventions, particularly beneficial for diffuse adenomyosis, are poised to become more precise with the aid of automated lesion localization, thereby minimizing invasiveness and optimizing treatment outcomes.
Beyond segmentation, Endo-Deep aspires to predict therapy responsiveness by characterizing lesions and phenotypes, addressing the current clinical challenge of selecting the most appropriate treatment modalities among varied options. The project notably targets borderline endometriosis lesions, which carry a higher malignancy risk, signaling a paradigm shift toward risk stratification and proactive management in women’s health.
Addressing the significant diagnostic delay inherent in these diseases, Dr. VanBuren underscores the transformative potential of AI in reducing this latency, positing that earlier diagnosis could minimize irreversible tissue damage, improve fertility outcomes, and alleviate chronic pain. The anticipated reduction in time to diagnosis and intervention represents a critical advancement that may also alleviate the economic burden associated with prolonged disease management.
The grant honoring Dr. Scott C. Goodwin, a visionary interventional radiologist and advocate for women’s health, reflects an intentional investment into clinical trials prioritizing historically underrepresented populations afflicted with adenomyosis. The funding initiative, bolstered by philanthropist Dr. John Lipman, founder of the Atlanta Fibroid Center, embodies a commitment to innovation in a field starved for dedicated resources despite the high prevalence and societal impact of these disorders.
Interventional radiology, as a specialty, has witnessed tremendous progress in adopting minimally invasive techniques that leverage imaging guidance for targeted therapies. This project embodies that evolution by harmonizing AI’s diagnostic power with IR’s therapeutic potential, thus offering a comprehensive approach to management—a stark contrast to traditional reliance on symptomatic treatment and invasive surgeries.
The SIR Foundation, dedicated to fostering research and education in interventional radiology, views this grant as a strategic catalyst for accelerating clinical innovation and improving patient outcomes. As Dr. Clifford R. Weiss, chair of the SIR Foundation, remarks, the investment symbolizes a pivotal step toward transforming care paradigms for women suffering from adenomyosis, a condition long overshadowed despite affecting millions globally.
From a technical perspective, the Endo-Deep model employs convolutional neural networks trained on multimodal imaging datasets to discern pathological patterns that would be imperceptible to human observers. This approach not only enhances diagnostic sensitivity but introduces reproducibility and objectivity into the clinical workflow, addressing variabilities inherent in radiologic interpretation.
Furthermore, the integration of lesion segmentation with therapeutic prediction exemplifies a holistic model design, which recognizes the heterogeneity of adenomyosis and endometriosis. Acknowledging variations in tissue interface, lesion depth, vascularity, and inflammatory microenvironment, the model aspires to deliver personalized clinical decision support, a cornerstone in precision medicine.
This pioneering project stands to inspire subsequent research endeavors, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaborations between AI specialists, radiologists, gynecologists, and interventionalists. It marks a paradigm shift in women’s healthcare research where technological advances are harnessed to address entrenched disparities and unmet medical needs.
In sum, the Dr. Scott C. Goodwin Grant catalyzes a transformative clinical research initiative aimed at harnessing artificial intelligence to revolutionize diagnosis and treatment of adenomyosis and endometriosis. Supported by the SIR Foundation and esteemed leaders in interventional radiology, the project epitomizes the confluence of innovation, advocacy, and compassionate care, promising tangible improvements in the lives of women globally battling these chronic reproductive disorders.
Subject of Research: Development and clinical validation of an AI-powered diagnostic and treatment planning model for adenomyosis and endometriosis.
Article Title: Revolutionary AI Diagnostic Model Promises to Transform Adenomyosis and Endometriosis Care
News Publication Date: September 3, 2025
Web References:
– https://sirfoundation.org
– https://sirweb.org
Keywords: Radiology, Gynecology, Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Artificial Intelligence, Interventional Radiology, Women’s Health, Diagnostic Imaging, Deep Learning, Treatment Planning, Clinical Research, AI in Medicine
Tags: advanced imaging techniques in gynecologyAI-powered medical imagingchronic pelvic pain treatmentdeep learning in healthcareDr. Scott C. Goodwin Grantendometriosis diagnosis advancementsgynecological disorder research fundingMayo Clinic adenomyosis researchpersonalized treatment for adenomyosisradiology and artificial intelligenceSociety of Interventional Radiology Foundationtransformative approaches to endometriosis.
