Northwell’s AI-Powered iNav Speeds Pancreatic Cancer Detection and Care, New Study Shows

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 26, 2026--

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to identify, with more than 80 percent of patients diagnosed at an advanced stage, severely limiting treatment options. However, iNav, Northwell Health’s in-house artificial intelligence (AI) clinical tool, has shown the ability to cut the time from biopsy to diagnosis in half and accelerate treatment timelines for patients, according to a study published in The Oncologist.

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iNav, a machine learning-based natural language processing (NLP) model analyzes more than 10,000 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan reports weekly across Northwell’s 28-hospital, expansive network. The system is designed to spot the markers of pancreatic cancer earlier, enabling doctors and care coordinators to quickly flag high-risk individuals, leading to earlier assessment and care connections.

The study, led by Daniel King, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Institute of Cancer Research at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and gastrointestinal medical oncologist, assessed iNav’s efficacy by comparing two groups of patients – those whose scans were analyzed by iNav and those analyzed through traditional diagnostics. The research, involving a total of 71 patients, revealed a promising trend of accelerating critical timelines for the iNav-assisted group. Specifically, the time from an imaging scan showing a potential issue to a biopsy was cut in half, decreasing from 12 days to just six. Similarly, the wait for an appointment with an oncologist dropped from 27 days to 17, and the time until treatment began shortened from 56 days to 35.

“This preliminary research suggests iNav holds tremendous potential as a clinical tool that can, in real-time, identify pancreatic cancer much earlier than traditional methods, offering patients a greater likelihood of successful outcomes and facilitating more equitable, precision medicine,” said Dr. King. “Importantly, iNav fits within Northwell’s multidisciplinary approach to treating pancreatic cancer. From surgeons to medical oncologists, gastroenterologists and social workers – it is important to provide a holistic and expedited path to coordinated clinical care.”

Results from the study show that iNav’s benefits, especially in improved consistency and equity, were observed across racial and ethnic minority groups, underscoring its potential to mitigate health disparities. Additionally, the iNav-assisted approach led to increased participation in research studies.

“What we see with iNav is more than a diagnostic tool; it’s the integration of AI into clinical infrastructure that shows research-backed promise to improve a patient’s journey,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. “This represents the future of cancer care, dedicated to saving lives and closing health and equity gaps.”

iNav, invented by Dr. King, Sandeep Nadella, MD, and Tiffany Zavadsky, CRNP, iNav has gained significant recognition. The tool won Northwell’s internal 2023 “Shark Tank”-like employee Innovation Challenge, securing $500,000 in seed investment. In 2024, Dr. King was awarded the ASCO Foundation Conquer Cancer Career Development Award that supported this research. Also in 2024, iNav was named to TIME’s Best Inventions list, which recognizes 200 groundbreaking inventions that are changing “how we live, work, play, and think about what’s possible.”

About the Feinstein Institutes
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Researchis the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50+ research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its six institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, molecular medicine, and translational research. We are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – an innovative field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. The Feinstein Institutes publishes two open-access, international peer-reviewed journalsMolecular MedicineandBioelectronic Medicine. Through theElmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, we offer an accelerated PhD program. For more information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease, visithttp://feinstein.northwell.eduand follow us onLinkedIn.

Northwell’s Dr. Dan King co-developed the iNav tool.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democrat Xavier Becerra advanced to the general election for California governor Friday after pitching himself as an experienced choice to lead the nation’s most populous state and succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Becerra leaned on his more than 35 years in public office — including as state attorney general and U.S. health secretary — to argue that he was the most qualified candidate in a crowded field.

“The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,” Becerra said in a statement. “We are never backing down. November, here we come.”

It was not yet clear who Becerra will face in the general election. His top rivals came down to Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator backed by President Donald Trump, and Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist who poured $215 million of his own money into his campaign.

Born and raised in Sacramento by Mexican immigrant parents, Becerra has a wife and three daughters. He has said his family’s immigrant background mirrored his “underdog” gubernatorial campaign, in which he initially failed to garner substantial support before surging in the final months.

After one of the top Democratic contenders, Rep. Eric Swalwell, was accused of sexual assault and dropped out of the race, Becerra benefited from an opening to coalesce Democratic support. He quickly racked up key endorsements from labor groups and Latino legislative leaders.

Becerra has vowed to maintain the state’s mantle as a chief antagonist to President Donald Trump. As attorney general he filed more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration on everything from immigration to climate policy.

The president has also been in a spat with the state over its drawn-out vote count. Trump made baseless claims mass fraud Thursday, and on Friday federal prosecutors said they opened investigations into allegations of election fraud. Hilton called for California to limit mail ballots to those who request them, rather sending them to all registered voters.

During the campaign Becerra's rivals scrutinized his leadership as health secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and unaccompanied migrant children crisis in 2021, when Becerra’s Department of Health and Human Services was responsible for shelters where they were housed. Some of them were criticized as having inadequate living conditions, and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed.

If elected, Becerra said, he would declare states of emergency to address high energy costs and housing shortages and to freeze home insurance rates.

Though California is one of the nation’s most diverse states, almost all its governors have been white men. Becerra would be the first Latino to hold the office since the late 1800s.

Newsom was barred by term limits from seeking a third stint in office.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during his election night watch party in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Huntington Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)