MSc Thesis Defence: Machine Learning and AI Model Development for Medical Applications

On June 29, 2026, MSc candidate Anesa Abazović successfully defended her thesis entitled “Machine Learning and AI Model Development for Medical Applications” within the Artificial Intelligence Master’s programme at the University of Donja Gorica. Through its support for the programme, mentoring activities, and development of competencies in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, NCC Montenegro contributes to preparing young researchers to apply advanced AI methods in medicine and other socially relevant domains. The thesis investigates the application of machine learning and deep learning to medical image analysis and clinical data classification, while also considering the technical, ethical, and practical challenges of integrating AI systems into healthcare.

Ms Anesa Abazovic during her MSc defence

ABSTRACT – This thesis explores the potential of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models in the detection of ovarian cancer and the prediction of pneumonia. In the first part, a YOLO model was used to identify tumor lesions in medical images, while in the second part, XGBoost, Random Forest, and neural network models were applied for the classification of clinical data. Model performance was evaluated using metrics such as precision, recall, accuracy, specificity, F1-score, ROC-AUC, MCC, mAP50, and mAP50-95. The experimental analysis demonstrated that AI models can achieve promising performance in both clinical scenarios, with certain limitations that require further validation. In addition to technical aspects, ethical considerations were also examined, including model interpretability, data privacy, and the integration of AI systems into healthcare information systems. It is concluded that AI can provide significant support to modern diagnostics, with the need for further improvements and clinical validation.

MSc Thesis Defence: Synergy of Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing in Tuberculosis Diagnostics and Education

On June 29, 2026, MSc candidate Nikola Kavarić successfully defended his thesis entitled “Synergy of Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing in Tuberculosis Diagnostics and Education” within the Artificial Intelligence Master’s programme at the University of Donja Gorica. Through its support for the programme, mentoring activities, and development of competencies in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, NCC Montenegro contributes to preparing young researchers to develop interdisciplinary AI solutions for healthcare. The thesis investigates the combination of computer vision and Retrieval-Augmented Generation approaches for detecting signs of tuberculosis and providing educational explanations of medical findings.

Mr. Kavaric during his MSc defence (NCC Montenegro)

ABSTRACT – The aim of this thesis is the development and evaluation of a system that combines computer vision and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) models for the automatic detection of signs of tuberculosis in chest X-ray images and the educational explanation of findings. The initial hypothesis was that it is possible to develop a functional prototype capable of recognizing pathological changes in X-ray images and generating informative, literature-grounded responses for users. Within this research, a CNN model for binary classification and YOLO models for the localization of pathological changes were developed and evaluated. The CNN model achieved an accuracy of 97% on the test set, representing a solid and measurable contribution. The YOLO models adequately demonstrated the concept of localization, with certain limitations related to dataset size and class imbalance. In addition to the visual module, a RAG prototype was implemented, utilizing a local medical document base to generate responses to user queries. The integration was implemented at the prototype level, without clinical validation. Based on the obtained results, the hypothesis was partially confirmed — to a significant extent for the CNN classification component within the test dataset used, while the YOLO and RAG components, due to dataset limitations and the absence of expert-verified reference answers, should be treated as proof-of-concept components. The thesis demonstrates that a modular combination of these technologies can serve as a useful foundation for the development of educational tools in the field of medical diagnostics.

AI-AGE Team Members Participated in the “AI Economy” Scientific Event at MASA

Podgorica, 18 June 2026 – Members of the AI-AGE project team participated in the scientific event “AI Economy”, held at the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA). The event brought together representatives of academia, researchers, experts and stakeholders to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on the economy, education, professions, healthcare, digital transformation and broader societal development.

Dr Stevan Cakic discussing the AI and opportunities in small economies

The participation of the AI-AGE team focused on the importance of building local knowledge, research capacity and educational infrastructure for the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence. Particular attention was given to the role of AI in education, the development of interdisciplinary skills, and the need to prepare students, researchers and institutions for an environment in which AI tools are becoming part of everyday professional and scientific practice.

Mr Igor Culafic presentng a paper on importance of niche development to stay competitive

The event also provided an opportunity to highlight the relevance of high-performance computing (HPC) for AI research and innovation. Access to advanced computing infrastructure is increasingly important for training and testing AI models, processing large datasets, supporting biomedical and data-driven research, and strengthening the overall capacity of universities and research teams in Montenegro.

Prof. Tomo Popovic talking about the competences and infrastructure needed for AI economy

Through its activities, the AI-AGE project continues to contribute to capacity building in the fields of AI, HPC and applied data science, with a particular focus on education, research excellence and the development of solutions that can support healthcare, science and society. Participation in events such as “AI Economy” is an important step in strengthening cooperation between academia, research projects and wider institutional stakeholders in Montenegro.

Conference paper at IEEE IT2026 on intepretable ML for diabetes screening

Our team presented a paper titled “Interpretable ML for Diabetes and Prediabetes Screening Using Self-Reported Health Indicators” by S. Lazic, S. Cakic, I. Rubezic Lukic, N. Popovic, and T. Popovic at the 30. Annual Conferenc on Information Technology IT 2026. This was part of mentoring activities and efforts related to development of young researchers.

The paper was presented at the conference by Ms. Sanja Lazic (MSc candidate)

ABSTRACT – Early identification of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes enables timely interventions, yet screening often relies on self-reported data rather than laboratory testing. This work compares lightweight Machine Learning (ML) models: Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) trained on 21 self-reported indicators from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset for three-class classification (no diabetes, prediabetes, diabetes). We propose a screening-oriented evaluation where a probability threshold is selected to achieve a target sensitivity (recall) of 0.80. LightGBM achieves balanced accuracy of 0.52 and precision of 0.33 at the target sensitivity, with 38% of cases flagged. Tree SHapley Additive exPlanations (TreeSHAP) highlight general health status, age category, body mass index (BMI), and hypertension as dominant predictors. A FastAPI web application provides individual risk estimates and instance-level explanations. The pipeline demonstrates feasibility of interpretable, calibrated screening from non-laboratory data.

AI-AGE Dataset Now Available on Zenodo

In line with the AI-AGE project’s commitment to open science and transparency, the dataset associated with our newly published BMJ Open paper has been made publicly available on Zenodo.

The dataset includes anonymised primary care data on frailty indicators, chronic diseases, and demographic variables among adults aged 40–69 in Montenegro. It provides a valuable resource for researchers working on biological ageing, frailty, multimorbidity, and AI-driven risk modelling, particularly in middle-income and transitional health systems.

By sharing this dataset, AI-AGE aims to support international collaboration, reproducibility, and secondary analyses that can further advance non-invasive ageing research.

🔗 Access the dataset on Zenodo: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15530367

Research Results Published in BMJ Open

We are pleased to announce the publication of the AI-AGE project’s first peer-reviewed paper in BMJ Open: “Frailty and multimorbidity among adults aged 40–69 years in Montenegro: a cross-sectional pilot study.”

This is the first study to provide population-based evidence on frailty, prefrailty, and multimorbidity in middle-aged adults in Montenegro. The key finding with direct relevance for Montenegro is that more than half of adults aged 40–69 already show signs of prefrailty or frailty, with a sharp increase in chronic disease burden observed from the age of 55 onwards. This highlights a critical window for early prevention and intervention within primary healthcare, well before old age.

The study also demonstrates that frailty screening is feasible in routine primary care settings, providing a strong foundation for scaling up AI-supported, non-invasive biomarkers of ageing within the Montenegrin healthcare system.

🔗 Read the full open-access paper at the following [link].

Digital Biometrics of Myopia Risk

Dr. Božidar Cacić, a PhD student mentored by Prof. Dr. Nataša Popović and a member of the AI-AGE project team, participated in the International Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, 11–13 September 2025) by presenting a peer-reviewed conference paper, thereby contributing to interdisciplinary international cooperation and to the education and training of young researchers. The paper title is “Digital Biometrics of Myopia Risk: Correlating Smartphone Usage and Study Patterns with Myopia Using Objective Screen Time Metrics at the Faculty of Medicine in Montenegro”

Advancing Medical Education: Collaboration with DECODE on Global Digital Health Guidelines

A groundbreaking initiative led by a group of 211 international experts from 79 countries has resulted in the publication of new guidelines aimed at integrating digital health competencies into medical education worldwide. These guidelines, titled Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education (DECODE), were published in JAMA Network Open and provide a comprehensive framework to help medical institutions prepare future doctors for the digital transformation of healthcare. Among the contributors to this landmark study were experts from the University of Montenegro’s Faculty of Medicine, highlighting the country’s role in shaping the future of medical education. AI-AGE team members participated in this effort, with one of its team members co-authoring the study.

The DECODE guidelines focus on four key areas: professionalism in digital health, patient and population digital health, health information systems, and health data science. These competencies are already being adopted in various countries, where they have influenced new learning outcomes for medical graduates. To support their implementation, an online event will be held on March 14, 2025, offering insights into how institutions can integrate these competencies into their curricula. As the Faculty of Medicine aligns its education strategy with DECODE, this initiative represents a significant step toward equipping future healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to navigate the evolving landscape of digital healthcare.

Click on image to view the paper at the JAMA Network Open website

Revisiting the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in a European cohort of Llderly living with Type 2 Diabetes

Our newly published paper shows that commonly used cognitive screening tools may overestimate mild cognitive impairment in older adults with type 2 diabetes, highlighting the need for more precise, harmonised assessment strategies.

Beyond this key finding, the study reflects the strength of collaboration within the Horizon 2020 RECOGNISED consortium, bringing together multidisciplinary teams across Europe. Through shared protocols, aligned cognitive and clinical assessments, and Good Clinical Practice standards, this collaboration helped build a solid foundation for high-quality, comparable data. Such coordinated efforts are essential for advancing AI-ready research infrastructure and for the future discovery of non-invasive biomarkers of aging and multimorbidity.

🔗 Link to the paper: https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251318029

Symorg 2024 Conference

A research paper prepared by our young researcher was published at the SymOrg 2024 conference, organized by the Faculty of Organizational Science, University of Belgrade, at Zlatibor, Serbia on June 12-14, 2024. The conference, traditionally envisioned as a platform for knowledge innovation and empirical research, bringing together representatives from the scientific and professional community, was themed: ”Unlocking The Hidden Potential Of Organization Through Merging Of Humans And Digitals”, aiming to address the newfound need for balance in the era of AI. This paper was done with the support of EUROCC2 and NCC Montenegro team.

The scientific paper “Detection of Scoliosis” by Elvis Taruh, Enisa Trubljanin, and Dejan Babić explores the application of a deep learning model integrated with a web application to detect scoliosis using x-ray images. Utilizing a dataset of 198 x-ray images from Roboflow, the initial model performance was unsatisfactory, prompting manual annotation of 245 images, which significantly improved the model’s accuracy. YOLOv8, a state-of-the-art object detection algorithm, was used to train two models, demonstrating improved performance with manual annotations. The web application, built with Flask, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, provides a user-friendly interface for analyzing scoliosis detection results. The backend uses MySQL for data storage and management, facilitating efficient image processing, result display, and feedback from doctors. Evaluation metrics indicate that the second model, which underwent refined annotation and augmentation, performed better, avoiding overfitting and demonstrating higher precision. This approach enhances early scoliosis diagnosis and offers a scalable solution for other medical detection challenges, supporting healthcare providers with more accurate diagnostic tools and improving patient care.