George Washko
Clinical Investigator, Imaging & Quantitative Image Analysis & Associate Physician Brigham and Women's Hospital
Dr. George R. Washko, Jr. is a respiratory physician at Mass General Brigham (MGB), the associate chief and director of research operations for the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine, and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is a National Institutes of Health-funded investigator and has focused on the utilization of medical imaging in pulmonary fibrosis to identify biomarkers that can be used for the detection, prognostication and as intermediate endpoints for therapeutic investigation. Dr. Washko first described the earliest radiologic form of pulmonary fibrosis called Interstitial Lung Abnormalities (ILA) and he continues to develop machine learning and deep learning tools to detect and quantify the earliest forms of parenchymal lung remodeling to enable the interception and prevention of disease.
Seminars
This hands-on workshop will explore how advanced imaging technologies combined with artificial intelligence are revolutionizing respiratory research. Attendees will gain practical insights into leveraging high-resolution imaging, machine learning, and novel diagnostic tools to better understand disease progression, identify patient subtypes, and accelerate drug development. The session will focus on actionable strategies to integrate imaging and AI into translational research and early-phase clinical programs.
Workshop Highlights
- Explore cutting-edge imaging technologies to assess structural and functional lung changes, providing more precise measures of disease progression and treatment response including how imaging modalities can compliment each other
- Learn how AI enhances imaging interpretation, enabling rapid, reproducible analysis of complex datasets and uncovering novel biomarkers previously inaccessible through manual review
- Understand practical applications for early detection, including oscillometry and imaging-derived endpoints, to support earlier intervention and improved patient stratification
- Evaluate integration of imaging with molecular and clinical data, enabling a holistic view of disease biology and more accurate identification of patient subtypes
- Gain insights into translational and drug development potential, including how AI-driven imaging can accelerate early proof-of-concept studies and inform next-generation endpoints, while recognizing technical and regulatory considerations
- Should COPD drug development move beyond exacerbation reduction as the dominant endpoint, and what alternative measures could better capture meaningful clinical benefit?
- How clinically meaningful are early improvements in lung function, and could they serve as valid endpoints for evaluating acute COPD treatments?
- What additional endpoints could better reflect patient benefit, including symptom improvement, quality of life, or disease progression?
- How do regulatory expectations currently shape endpoint selection in COPD trials, and where might there be flexibility for innovation?
- What strategies can developers use to demonstrate robust clinical value when proposing novel endpoints to regulators and payers?
