By Marta Rybczynski
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced that it is recruiting nearly 700,000 women across the UK to participate in a trial testing how AI can be leveraged to detect breast cancer sooner.
The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (EDITH) trial is backed by £11 million (US$13.7 million) of government support through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Women already scheduled for routine NHS screenings will be invited to participate.
For the trial, the government is rolling out AI technology at 30 NHS screening sites to assist radiologists in identifying potential signs of breast cancer. Currently, two specialists are required for each mammogram, but the new technology allows one to complete the process safely and efficiently. If successful, the trial could free up hundreds of radiologists and other specialists across the country to see more patients, improve patient care, reduce waiting lists, and help address rising cancer rates.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with approximately 55,000 new diagnoses each year.
The launch of the EDITH trial was unveiled alongside DHSC’s initiative for “a call for evidence,” inviting cancer experts, patients, and medical professionals to help shape a new National Cancer Plan. As part of the plan, the government aims to address rising cancer cases by investing in the latest technologies to improve research, diagnosis, screening, treatment and prevention.
NIHR CEO Lucy Chappell remarked, “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.”
In January, the government announced an AI Opportunities Action Plan, which has attracted over £14 billion (US$17.4 billion) in investment since its launch.
“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,” Chappell concluded.
