Read more about our work in this selection of news stories, blogs and case studies.
We publish a newsletter several times a year. If you'd like to be kept up to date with our projects and progress, please email us to be added to the list. You can browse our previous newsletters using the links on this page.
Patients in the South West Peninsula are now benefitting from artificial intelligence (AI) to support the diagnosis and treatment of lung nodules.
A lung nodule is a small lump detected on an X-ray or CT scan. While very common, sometimes a lung nodule can be the first sign of a cancer in the lung. Finding them earlier means they are potentially more treatable.
The AI technology from Qure.ai is called qCT and was implemented with funding from the government’s £21m Artificial Intelligence Diagnostic Fund (AIDF). The successful bid from the PenRAD Imaging Network – which brings together imaging services in the four healthcare trusts across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – will fund the service for two years.
PenRAD undertook a comprehensive evaluation of available technologies before deciding to prepare a bid for lung nodule detection. Following a robust procurement process, with support from Health Innovation South West and the Peninsula Cancer Alliance, the Qure.ai tool was selected.
The tool uses artificial intelligence to assist in the reporting of scans by experienced radiologists. qCT provides clinicians with an additional AI-generated overlay on a CT scan, that shows additional information about the size and/or growth of any nodules over time.
This helps determine whether action needs to be taken sooner or later, or is not required at all. Around 1,200 chest CT scans are being processed from patients each week across all four NHS trusts in the region.
Tej Pandher, a Consultant Radiologist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said:
‘Lung nodule AI assistance helps to identify and track suspicious nodules over time. The reporting radiologist can then put any such nodules into a clinical context and provide useful information for further follow up and/or treatment.’
Surabhi Srivastava, UK Business Head at Qure.ai, said:
‘The qCT AI software from Qure.ai is designed to provide efficient clinical decision support to radiologists in the detection, characterisation, quantification and monitoring of lung nodules. The AI can also pull patient images from prior CT examinations for nodule management and support progression monitoring. This makes it easier for the clinician to assess the growth of nodules.’
‘With qCT AI now in place, we are helping clinicians across the south-west peninsula make faster, more informed decisions. This ensures patients get the right care at the right time.’
The purpose of the AI Diagnostic Fund is to help bridge the gap in evidence for the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in healthcare. More real-world evidence is required to support the introduction of new tools which have the ability to greatly improve care.
An independent evaluation is being carried out of the programme by Health Innovation South West, and nationally data from all of the projects will be analysed to understand the impact of the programme.
Find out more about the Artificial Intelligence Diagnostic Fund.
Visit the PenRAD Imaging Network website.
Find out more about Qure.ai and qCT: AI for early detection of Lung Cancer.