A team from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and Neuroscience Advanced Clinical Imaging Service (NACIS) have been recognised in the 2026 Australian Financial Review (AFR) AI Awards, highlighting leadership in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to improve child health.

Drs Emma Macdonald-Laurs, Joseph Yang and Sila Genc received the Research and Education Award for their work on the AI epilepsy detective. The innovative tool, developed by MCRI and The Royal Children’s Hospital to detect subtle brain abnormalities that are often missed by standard MRI scans, powers earlier and more accurate diagnosis for children with epilepsy.

Epilepsy affects around 25,000 children and families across Australia. For some patients, identifying the underlying cause can be challenging when abnormalities are difficult to detect using existing imaging techniques.

The technology uses advanced machine‑learning approaches to analyse brain imaging data and detect tiny brain lesions that cause a type of drug-resistant epilepsy called focal cortical dysplasias, which are hard to spot on routine MRIs.

Image: Dr Emma Macdonald‑Laurs at Australian Financial Review AI Awards

“Cortical dysplasias can be impossible for traditional MRI techniques to identify, and less than half are recognised on a child’s first scan.” Dr Macdonald-Laurs said. “Failure to locate the abnormal tissue slows the pathway to a definitive diagnosis and may stop a child being referred for potentially curative epilepsy surgery.”

Dr Macdonald-Laurs said identifying the cause early allowed doctors to tailor treatment options and helped neurosurgeons plan and navigate surgery, which may cure seizures in children.

The project was selected from a highly competitive national field, with the AFR awards judging panel citing its groundbreaking contribution to Australia’s AI sector.

Dr Macdonald‑Laurs said receiving the award highlighted the importance of applying AI responsibly in healthcare.

“Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to support clinicians and improve outcomes for children,” she said. “Being recognised by the AFR AI Awards reflects the collaborative effort behind this work and the shared goal of translating technology into real‑world clinical impact.”

The AFR AI Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in AI across industry, research and the public sector, showcasing projects that are shaping the future of technology in Australia.

The awards were announced in The Australian Financial Review’s AI Awards special report on 2 June 2026.

Learn more about MCRI’s Neuroscience Research Group and how this research has helped transform the lives of children like Royal.