UKRI backs five hubs developing AI tools for earlier disease detection

pharmafile.com | November 8, 2026 | News story | |  Cardiology, Devices, Haematology, Infections and infestations, Neurology, Psychiatry, R&D, Wound Healing, community health, community healthcare, medical technology 

Five UK research hubs are to receive more than £52m in government funding to develop technologies aimed at detecting disease earlier and supporting people to manage their health outside hospital.

The hubs, based in Exeter, London, Southampton and Sunderland, will work on projects spanning brain health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory infections. The funding is being provided through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with industry partners contributing a further £37.5m in cash and in-kind support.

Projects include plans for a network of NHS brain health clinics combining blood tests, brain scans and memory assessments to help identify dementia risk and accelerate diagnosis. The programme also aims to develop tools for assessing head injuries in sport and road accidents, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems capable of identifying early signs of diabetes and heart disease in routine eye scans.

Other projects will explore smartphone apps and wearable devices that analyse coughs and breathing to help people with respiratory infections decide whether to seek medical advice, alongside an AI-based wellbeing coach to support people managing cardiovascular disease at home.

The hubs will work with patients, healthcare professionals, the NHS and industry partners, including Google, Siemens and Medtronic.

UKRI said the investment builds on previous research hubs, whose work has included the development of AI-assisted brain tumour surgery. The new projects are intended to translate engineering and physical sciences research into technologies that could support earlier intervention and reduce pressure on healthcare services.

Pic: RDNE