The UK Government will fund £100m to advance and expand the use of AI in life sciences to tackle the country’s major health challenges.
Announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the AI Life Sciences Accelerator Mission will leverage the UK’s world-leading capabilities in AI technology and secure health data to develop breakthrough treatments for previously incurable diseases.
The initiative will support the use of AI in life sciences across eight healthcare missions that the government, industry, the NHS, academia, and medical research charities will collaborate on, including treatment for dementia and cancer.
The sizable funding will be invested in areas of the UK where the clinical needs are highest to test these novel AI technologies over the next 18 months.
Rishi Sunak said: “AI can help us solve some of the greatest social challenges of our time. AI could help find novel dementia treatments or develop vaccines for cancer.
“That’s why today we’re investing a further £100 million to accelerate the use of AI on the most transformational breakthroughs in treatments for previously incurable diseases.”
How can using AI in life sciences treat diseases?
Utilising AI in life sciences holds the potential to advance the development of innovative, precise treatments for dementia.
The recent injection of government funding into AI initiatives will help harness the wealth of health data in the UK rapidly. This data can be used to identify individuals at risk of dementia and related conditions promptly.
It will ensure that the correct patients are engaged in clinical trials at precisely the right moment to expedite the effective development of new treatments.
Moreover, it enhances the ability to gather more accurate data on the efficacy of these novel therapies.
Ultimately, this approach guarantees that patients receive treatments tailored to their unique needs, improving their overall outcomes.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay added: “Cutting-edge technology such as AI is the key to both improving patient care and supporting staff to do their jobs and we are seeing positive impacts across the NHS.
“This new accelerator fund will help us build on our efforts to harness the latest technology to unlock progress and drive economic growth.
“This is on top of the progress we have already made on AI deployment in the NHS, with AI tools now live in over 90% of stroke networks in England – halving the time for stroke victims to get the treatment in some cases, helping to cut waiting times.”
Advancing mental health care
In addition to creating new disease treatments, employing AI in life sciences will also foster improved diagnostics and treatments for mental health conditions.
Innovations such as conversational AI, which supports people with mental health challenges by guiding them through prevention methods and contacting human therapists when needed, are a great example that reduces the strain on the NHS.
Echoing the significance of the funding, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan, concluded: “Safe, responsible AI will change the game for what it’s possible to do in healthcare, closing the gap between the discovery and application of innovative new therapies, diagnostic tools, and ways of working that will give clinicians more time with their patients.”
