Mumbai-based health-tech company Qure.ai has been awarded an $8 million grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop AI-powered tools for the early detection of tuberculosis (TB) and pneumonia. These diseases continue to claim millions of lives each year, often because patients are diagnosed too late.
The grant will support the creation of AI-enabled point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) tools that can be used by frontline health workers in clinics, rural health centres, and mobile units. By combining portable ultrasound devices with artificial intelligence, the technology can quickly analyse images and detect lung disease, helping doctors start treatment sooner—even in places where specialist radiologists are not available.
An important part of the initiative is the development of a large, open-access medical database containing anonymised chest X-rays, ultrasound scans, CT images, lung sound recordings, and lab data. This resource will allow researchers worldwide to build and refine AI models for lung disease detection, improving care for patients globally.
Qure.ai Founder and CEO Prashant Warier said the grant will help the company expand its mission to make accurate diagnostics accessible to all, especially in underserved areas. He highlighted that AI-powered ultrasound could become a simple, cost-effective way to catch serious lung diseases early.
The company’s AI tools are already in use in several countries and are referenced in global TB screening guidelines. With the Gates Foundation’s support, Qure.ai aims to reach more patients, improve early detection rates, and save lives by providing timely and reliable diagnostics where they are needed most.
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