Mark Aaron Balbin

With Filipinos being known for their love of fatty foods, they pose themselves to the risk of heart diseases. But soon, they may be able to know just when to stop.


A group of Grade 11 students from Quezon City Science High School developed an artificial intelligence (AI) software that can detect plaque buildup in the heart, potentially innovating heart disease detection and prevention.

The software, named “Preemptive identification of neointimal tissue in imaging for gleaning atherosclerotic plaques” or Pintig uses AI learning algorithms to analyze computed tomography (CT) scanned images of the heart and identify the atherosclerosis plaque or clogging of the heart.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the Philippines. The World Health

Organization reports that coronary heart disease accounted for 142 deaths per 100,000

Filipinos in 2021. Early detection and intervention are critical, yet existing diagnostic procedures often come with high costs and physical risks.

This is where Pintig steps in. “Pintig examines each pixel of CT scan images as small as 50 micrometers—far beyond what the naked eye can see,” said developer Kenzo Miguel Tayko.

The students used 14,000 CT scan images from 200 patients to incorporate machine learning into the software, achieving an accuracy of 98% at its best.

In order to use the software, a person must be a registered patient.

Upon submission, their heart images would then be scanned and diagnosed whether the heart is positive or negative for coronary artery disease (CAD) plaque.

“You have to go through a series of invasive surgeries that may not just actually damage the structure of the patient and pose expensive cost,” Tayko said.

Currently, Pintig is undergoing clinical trials in collaboration with the Philippine Heart Center to refine its accuracy and ensure its safety for medical use. The trials will determine whether this AI-powered solution can be integrated into real-world healthcare systems.

Should Pintig prove successful in its trials, it could offer a safer, more accessible diagnostic tool for millions of Filipinos at risk of heart disease—a game-changer in a country where heart health is an urgent public concern.

From a high school classroom to the forefront of medical innovation, Pintig exemplifies how Filipino ingenuity and AI technology can pave the way for life-saving solutions.