ProGRESS Risk Prediction Model: How EZ Labs is Supporting the VA with AI

Executive Summary

Prostate cancer remains a major health challenge for men, affecting more than 313,000 Americans each year. Veterans face nearly twice the risk due to genetic, environmental, and service-related exposures. The Department of Veterans Affairs launched the Prostate Cancer, Genetic Risk, and Equitable Screening Study (ProGRESS) to improve risk identification and management. 

EZ Labs is building on this foundation with advanced AI systems that integrate genetic, clinical, environmental, and social data into adaptive “living risk profiles.” Our goal is to create screening that is more personalized, equitable, and actionable, empowering clinicians and Veterans with insights that continuously evolve as new data emerge.

The Challenge

Traditional screening relies on generalized, age-based criteria. This creates two problems: overdiagnosis in some and delayed detection in others. Veterans are particularly vulnerable because exposures such as Agent Orange, burn pits, and radiation interact with genetic and family risk factors. Underserved and minority Veterans face further inequities in access to advanced screening and treatment. 

Current one-size-fits-all models cannot reflect the complexity of Veteran health journeys. A more adaptive, equitable, and data-rich approach is needed.

EZ Labs Vision

While ProGRESS is a groundbreaking step in integrating genetic and clinical data for risk stratification, EZ Labs envisions pushing beyond its current boundaries by introducing novel AI-driven mechanisms that have not yet been widely applied in Veteran prostate cancer screening. Our approach emphasizes three pillars: multi-modal intelligence, dynamic risk adaptation, and equitable deployment at scale. 

Multi-Modal Intelligence: We aim to extend beyond genetic markers and self-reported family history by incorporating real-world service exposures, imaging data, and longitudinal EHR streams. By fusing structured and unstructured data—including pathology reports, radiology images, and social determinants of health—our models will capture the complex interplay of military service exposures (e.g., Agent Orange, burn pits, radiation) with genetic predispositions. This deeper context ensures risk scores reflect the lived reality of Veterans rather than relying solely on static markers. 

Dynamic Risk Adaptation: ProGRESS primarily classifies patients into fixed risk tiers, but EZ Labs advocates for adaptive, continuously learning risk models that evolve with each new data point. Instead of a one-time classification, our workflows generate “living risk profiles” that update as Veterans age, as treatments progress, and as new biomarkers are discovered. This approach mirrors financial portfolio management, where risk is monitored and rebalanced dynamically rather than assumed static. 

Equitable Deployment at Scale: Traditional AI approaches often reinforce inequities if training data are imbalanced. EZ Labs introduces algorithmic equity checks and counterfactual fairness testing at every stage of development. By simulating “what-if” scenarios for minority Veterans, rural populations, and those with limited access to specialty care, our systems ensure that predictions and interventions remain consistent across demographic groups. We also envision embedding risk communication tools into Veteran-facing digital health platforms, ensuring patients understand and act upon their results with clarity and trust. 

Transforming Clinical Practice: Together, these innovations go beyond predictive models to create a true decision ecosystem. Clinicians gain risk dashboards enriched with clear, contextual explanations, while Veterans receive transparent and personalized health trajectories that enable shared decision-making. This approach delivers a screening framework that grows with each Veteran’s journey, identifies inequities before they emerge, and opens new pathways for earlier, more precise, and more equitable prostate cancer detection.

The Impact

By advancing AI-driven prostate cancer screening, EZ Labs will: 

• Reduce unnecessary procedures and interventions. 

• Enable earlier detection of high-risk cases. 

• Narrow care gaps for underserved and minority Veterans. 

• Provide a scalable model for applying AI to other conditions such as cardiovascular disease and PTSD. 

Our commitment is to partner with the VA to deliver healthcare that is timely, precise, and equitable for every Veteran.