NHS AI trial to diagnose prostate cancer up to a month faster

An AI-powered service for prostate cancer which can spot lesions in minutes will be trialled in the NHS to help speed up diagnosis for men.

The pilot, funded by NHS England, will use the AI tool Pi, developed by Lucida Medical, to interpret MRI scans for suspected prostate cancer at up to 15 NHS hospitals.

Lucy Davies, vice president of clinical at Lucida Medical and NHS Innovation Accelerator fellow said that the technology “has the potential to enable a more efficient care pathway, supporting a ‘one stop shop’ for diagnosis, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for patients and cost savings.”

A rapid diagnosis pathway to offer all investigations within one day, will be piloted at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2026, with around 100 men expected to participate.

Dr Oliver Hulson, consultant radiologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, who is leading the trial, said: “The AI assisted MRI screening introduces a rapid diagnostic approach, so that we can fast-track those patients that may need to receive further investigations through MRI scans and a biopsy, to have them all in one day at the Leeds Cancer Centre.

“We hope this can pave the way to mean faster treatment and better outcomes for our patients and their families.”

If the AI software finds that a scan indicates a high-risk of cancer, it will be immediately sent to a radiologist for priority review and the patient booked in for a biopsy the same day, allowing doctors to either give an all clear that day or confirm a cancer diagnosis a few days later following review.

Under current best practice guidelines, patients should receive an MRI and biopsy within seven days of an urgent GP referral for suspected prostate cancer but depending on the capacity of radiologists this can be longer in some areas.

Using AI could help move care closer to home for patients, with AI-assisted MRI scans potentially being performed in Community Diagnostic Centres if found to be successful.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “We are determined to see more patients diagnosed or given the all-clear quicker, and combining the latest technology with this new testing pathway will give clinicians the tools they need to provide patients with peace of mind or pin down a cancer diagnosis as soon as possible.”

The AI tool – which research suggests can spot 95% of cancers – will be used in 10,000 scans to assist radiologist reporting of cancers and the decision-making process for next steps, including recommendations for active surveillance, biopsy and treatment planning, if appropriate.

Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said that AI could save men “prolonged anxiety and the bother of hospital trips” while also increasing capacity for the NHS workforce.

The project is one of seven pilots backed by a £14 million investment aimed to improve the early detection of cancer, as part of the NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals ran a one month pilot of the AI tool in August 2024 to test its effectiveness.