UK AI firm wins share of £140 million funding for lung cancer detection tech

pharmafile | June 18, 2021 | News story | Medical Communications AI, CT, NHS, funding, lunch cancer, screening, technology 

Artificial intelligence firm Behold.ai has won a share of £140 million in government funding for its red dot lung cancer detection platform, as part of the Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award.

The award will fund the set-up of two clinical trials sites for the red dot platform in NHS radiology departments, allowing the company to collect further data and support future national roll-out.

Behold.ai was one of five winners for Phase 4 of the award to support initial national adoption. It is also one of 38 organisations to receive funding to support the advancement and widespread use of AI technologies, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan.

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The red dot algorithm looks to fast-track lung cancer patients who have received an irregular chest x-ray for a CAT (CT) scan, reducing the approximate wait time from 24 days to as little as one hour and 40 minutes.

Simon Rasalingham, CEO and Chairman of Behold.ai, said: “This is an important milestone in our journey and will allow us to gain further NHS evidence to support this new form of diagnostic medicine which is already available for use.

“Our peer reviewed paper published this month has shown that we can combine the power of AI and clinician expertise to create a ‘super-human’ clinician, while increasing capacity and reducing costs. At behold.ai we are committed to bringing innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes through faster diagnosis and earlier treatment.”

The behold.ai algorithm has been developed using more than 150,000 example images, all of which have been reviewed and reported by highly experienced consultant radiology clinicians in order to shape accurate decision making.

The £140 million funding will be made available over four years, and has been awarded to 38 companies.

Kat Jenkins

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