London – The UK government has announced an extensive trial involving nearly 700,000 women to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in the early detection of breast cancer. With £11 million funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), this initiative will see the integration of AI into 30 NHS breast screening sites across the UK.
AI tools assess mammograms for possible signs of cancer and improve the efficiency of the screening process by assisting radiologists. As of now, each screening is carried out by two specialists; with AI, that number would be one, allowing the redeployment of medical professionals into other pressing areas.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating, “With record numbers of people diagnosed with cancer, and Lord Darzi finding that cancer survival is worse in this country than our peers, I know that urgent action is needed to save lives and improve patient care. That’s why for World Cancer Day, I am committed to publishing a dedicated National Cancer Plan this year, to unleash Britain’s potential as a world leader in saving lives from this deadly disease and make the NHS fit for the future through our Plan for Change.”
The EDITH Trial (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health) is part of a larger government program aiming to put AI into action in healthcare. According to Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and CEO, of NIHR, “This landmark trial could lead to a significant step forward in the early detection of breast cancer, offering women faster, more accurate diagnoses when it matters most. It is another example of how NIHR research, shaped and funded by the public, is crucial for rigorously testing world-leading new technologies, such as AI, that can potentially save lives while reducing the burden on the NHS.”
Breast cancer is still the most common cancer in women in the UK, with about 55,000 cases diagnosed each year. Early detection is critical for treatment, and this trial aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis.
The government has also initiated a call for evidence to inform the development of a new National Cancer Plan, which aims to position the UK as the best country in terms of cancer survival rates through research, diagnosis, and treatment.
NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, stressed the significance of this step, saying, “The NHS is diagnosing more cancers at an early stage than ever before – when treatment is most likely to be effective – but we know we need to accelerate progress further.”
The trial goes hand in hand with the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which has since attracted an investment of over £14 billion and seeks to transform public services through the adoption of AI-based solutions.
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle underscored the life-saving potential of AI integration, stating, “Delivering on our AI Opportunities Action Plan, we are going to use AI to repair broken public services and drive forward our Plan for Change. Trials like this illustrate exactly the impact we know the technology can have – improving lives and in this case, saving them.”
If made successful, AI integration could change breast cancer screening, making it very easy for early diagnosis, good patient outcomes, and less waiting for the patients. Most cases of early cancer diagnosis under the NHS are being performed with sustained input in AI, as the UK intends to set a world standard for the detection and treatment of cancers.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-ai-trial-to-tackle-breast-cancer-launched
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