UK Launches Groundbreaking AI Trial to Improve Breast Cancer Screening
Nearly 700,000 women across the UK will participate in a groundbreaking trial to test AI technology in breast cancer screenings, the government announced on World Cancer Day. The trial, known as the Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (EDITH), aims to determine whether AI can improve early detection rates while also reducing pressure on radiologists.
The £11 million study will take place across 30 NHS testing sites and evaluate five different AI platforms. Women who are already scheduled for routine screenings will be invited to take part. The goal is to see if AI can accurately analyze mammograms, potentially reducing the need for two radiologists per screening and allowing more patients to be seen.
Currently, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with around 55,000 cases diagnosed annually. The NHS conducts approximately 2.1 million breast cancer screenings each year, helping prevent around 1,300 deaths. The introduction of AI could significantly impact these figures by enabling faster and more efficient diagnoses.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the urgency of improving cancer care, stating that “urgent action” is needed as cancer survival rates in the UK lag behind similar nations. He promised to publish a dedicated National Cancer Plan later this year, which will focus on research, diagnosis, screening, treatment, and prevention.
The National Cancer Plan will also include targeted actions for rarer cancers, including those affecting children. The government has relaunched the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce to focus on improving treatment and research for these cases.
Claire Rowney, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Now, stressed that any changes to the breast screening program must be based on solid evidence. She stated that “any new innovation or tool must be safe and effective for women.”
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care, called the trial a “significant step forward,” while Dr. Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, highlighted the potential of AI to address growing demands in radiology. However, Dr. Halliday also warned that “this study will take time to yield results” and emphasized the need to increase radiology capacity.
The trial aligns with the government’s broader AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to modernize public services and position the UK as a leader in AI-driven healthcare. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated, “Catching cancer weeks earlier could be the difference between life and death.”
As part of the initiative, the government has launched a public call for evidence, inviting cancer patients, medical professionals, and researchers to contribute their insights. The results of this consultation will help shape the final National Cancer Plan, which is set to be published later this year.
Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, NHS England, Kyle, P, and Streeting, W. 2025. World-leading AI trial to tackle breast cancer launched. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-ai-trial-to-tackle-breast-cancer-launched [Accessed 4 February 2025].
