Trial will use AI in breast cancer screenings
Nearly 700,000 women will take part in a trial to test how AI tools can be used to discover breast cancer cases earlier, the Department of Health and Social Care announced today (February 4, 2025).
Thirty testing sites will be enhanced with digital AI technologies, ready to invite women already booked in for routine screenings on the NHS to take part.
The technology will assist radiologists in screening patients to identify changes in breast tissue that show possible signs of cancer.
Two specialists are currently needed per mammogram screening, but the new AI technology will enable one to complete the same mammogram screening process. If the trial is successful, DHSC believes it could free up hundreds of radiologists and other specialists to see more patients, tackle rising cancer rates, save more lives and cut waiting lists.
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The EDITH trial (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health) is backed by £11m of government support via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with around 55,000 people being diagnosed with the disease annually. Currently, women between the ages of 50 and 71 are invited to be screened every three years to help detect cases.
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