World-leading AI trial to tackle breast cancer launched (update)

Published 4 February 2025

Last updated 13 February 2025 — See all updates

Nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier, the Department of Health and Social Care announced today (4 February 2025). 

As government ramps up the use of new technology across the board, 30 testing sites across the country will be enhanced with the latest digital AItechnologies, ready to invite women already booked in for routine screenings on the NHS to take part. The technology will assist radiologists, screening patients to identify changes in breast tissue that show possible signs of cancer and refer them for further investigations if required. 

Currently, 2 specialists are needed per mammogram screening. This technology enables just one to complete the same mammogram screening process safely and efficiently. If the trial is successful, it could free up hundreds of radiologists and other specialists across the country to see more patients, tackle rising cancer rates, save more lives and cut waiting lists. 

The EDITH trial (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health) is backed by £11 million of government support via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It is the latest example of how British scientists are transforming cancer care, building on the promising potential of cutting-edge innovations to tackle one of the UK's biggest killers. 

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with around 55,000 people being diagnosed with the disease every year. Currently, women between the ages of 50 and 71 are invited to be screened every 3 years to help detect cases. This equates to around 2.1 million breast cancer screens carried out by the programme annually, helping to prevent around 1,300 deaths. 

The launch of the trial comes as cancer experts, people living with cancer and medical professionals are invited to help shape the development of a new national cancer plan through the launch of a call for evidence, being announced later today by the Health and Social Care Secretary at an event hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support to mark World Cancer Day. 

Every 4 minutes, someone in the UK dies from cancer and Lord Darzi's recent independent investigation into the NHS found that cancer survival in this country is worse for some cancers than some similar nations. 

The new plan to fight one of the UK's major conditions could help transform the way we treat cancer, making the UK a world leader in cancer survival by fighting the disease on all fronts, through improving research, diagnosis, screening, treatment and prevention. This includes investing in the latest technologies to address rising cancer cases, recognising the vital role they'll play in tackling the disease. 

This government is taking the necessary steps to ensure that NHS patients will be among the first to benefit from cutting-edge medical innovations, such as the technology being tested in the EDITH trial, catapulting the service from analogue to digital to cut waiting lists and make it fit for the future, as set out in the government's 10 Year Health Plan. 

Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts, have already been invited to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS via the Change NHS online platform, which will help shape the government's 10 Year Health Plan. The results of this consultation will support the development of the national cancer plan. 

This closely follows the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which has put the UK on course to revolutionise public services and become an AI superpower - already attracting over £14 billion in investment since launching just last month. 

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said: 

As a cancer survivor, I feel like one of the lucky ones. 

With record numbers of people diagnosed with cancer, and Lord Darzi finding that cancer survival is worse in this country than our peers, I know that urgent action is needed to save lives and improve patient care. 

That's why for World Cancer Day, I am committed to publishing a dedicated national cancer plan this year, to unleash Britain's potential as a world leader in saving lives from this deadly disease and make the NHS fit for the future through our Plan for Change.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at DHSC and Chief Executive Officer of NIHR, said: 

This landmark trial could lead to a significant step forward in the early detection of breast cancer, offering women faster, more accurate diagnoses when it matters most. 

It is another example of how NIHR research, shaped and funded by the public, is crucial for rigorously testing world-leading new technologies, such as AI, that can potentially save lives while reducing the burden on the NHS.

Due to be published later this year, the national cancer plan will set out targeted actions to reduce lives lost to one of the biggest killers, continue improving survival rates, and improve the experience of patients along their cancer journey. 

It will also include specific actions for rarer cancers such as those affecting children and young people. 

To support this work, the government has re-launched the Children and Young People's Cancer Taskforce, with Dame Caroline Dinenage and Professor Darren Hargrave appointed as its co-chairs, alongside Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel as vice-chair. 

The taskforce will bring together the country's top experts to set out plans to improve treatment, detection and research for cancer in children and young people, which will feed into the national cancer plan. 

NHS national clinical director for cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, said: 

The NHS is diagnosing more cancers at an early stage than ever before - when treatment is most likely to be effective - but we know we need to accelerate progress further. 

A national cancer plan will give us the chance to do just that - bringing in new ideas, help us make best practice, normal practice - and ensure the NHS is at the cutting edge of new cancer developments and innovations in the future.

Britain is a global leader in the development of advanced therapies, with a strong academic and life sciences industry, and was the first national health system in Europe to commission CAR-T cellular therapy for blood cancer patients. 

Now, alongside the national cancer plan, a new UK Collaborative for Cancer Clinical Research is being launched to provide co-ordination, target investment and maximise opportunities for the UK to lead in clinical research. This will help to unlock innovation and growth. 

Hosted by the Association of Medical Research Charities, the collaborative will support charities to convene expertise from across the cancer research landscape, to identify strategic priorities and cross-cutting areas of unmet need.

Science Minister Lord Vallance and Health Minister Baroness Merron will see first-hand how charities, academia, industry and the NHS working hand in hand to support research is leading to breakthroughs for cancer patients, on a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital today. Their Sutton cancer hub is hosting MANIFEST, a research project jointly led by the Francis Crick Institute, looking to better target immunotherapy as a treatment of cancer. The government announced £9 million funding for the project, in October. 

Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

Catching cancer weeks earlier could be the difference between life and death - and these trials could not only help to get women faster access to treatment but reduce pressures on our NHS. 

Delivering on our AI Opportunities Action Plan, we are going to use AI to repair broken public services and drive forward our Plan for Change. Trials like this illustrate exactly the impact we know the technology can have - improving lives and in this case, saving them. 

The government has committed to fixing the NHS and making it fit for the future as part of its Plan for Change. 

Last week, the government pledged to speed up diagnosis and treatment for tens of thousands of cancer patients. From March 2026, around 100,000 more people every year will be told they have cancer or not within 28 days and around 17,000 more people will begin treatment within 2 months of a referral. 

This comes as part of new targets from NHS England confirming 4 out of 5 patients would receive a diagnosis or be given the all-clear within 28 days of a cancer referral - an increase to 80% on the current target of 77%. 

The move will ensure that those with cancer are given the best chance of survival through earlier diagnosis and access to treatment. 

It will also bring the government closer to achieving all of the cancer waiting time standards set out in the NHS Constitution, some of which have not been met since 2015. 

Read more information on how to contribute to the call for evidence for the national cancer plan. 

Macmillan Cancer Support Chief Executive, Gemma Peters, said:

Today, cancer care faces some of the biggest challenges we've ever seen. There are almost 3.5 million people living with cancer across the UK. As this number rises, more and more people will struggle to access the care they need because of who they are or where they live. Better cancer care is possible if we harness promising innovations like those announced today and ensure everyone benefits from them.

That's why today we have brought together people living with cancer, community organisations and cancer experts so the Health and Social Care Secretary can hear directly from the people who are dealing with cancer day in and day out. By sharing experiences, learning from what works and what is broken, we have an opportunity to spark a revolution in cancer care. The government knows we need to do things differently and joining forces with Macmillan and other trusted partners to develop a robust cancer plan for England, we can together transform cancer care for everyone now and for the future.

Cancer Research UK Chief Executive, Michelle Mitchell, said:

Nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Tackling the leading cause of death in the UK requires bold leadership, and we welcome the UK government's national cancer plan for England. We need a long-term strategy focused on diagnosing cancers earlier, reducing waiting times, and bringing cutting-edge treatment to people sooner.

The evidence is clear: countries with dedicated cancer plans see greater improvements in survival. We look forward to working with the UK government to make sure the plan delivers for everyone affected by cancer in England.

Cancer 52 Chief Executive Officer, Chris Walden, said:

A national cancer plan is an opportunity to ensure people with rare and less common cancers are diagnosed early, survival rates improve and they have the support they need.

55% of all deaths from cancer are from rare and less common cancers; tackling this must be a priority and patient voices need to be heard as part of the consultation process so the policy recommendations are grounded in their experiences.