The world leading project called Octahedron will be led in Newcastle by a collaboration of academics from Newcastle University’s Institute of Neurosciences and eye experts at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and the Sunderland Eye Infirmary. The partnership is one of the first winners of the ‘AI in Health and Care Award’ sharing part of £50m.
Professor Nicola Pavese, Consultant Neurologist and Director of Newcastle University’s Clinical Ageing Research Unit says: “Neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s affect over one million people in the UK. These are progressive so it’s really important to begin treatment as early as possible.
Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear the brain will have been affected for years. Professor Pavese says: “I know patients who are genetically at risk of Parkinson’s Disease. We monitor them but it’s too disruptive and expensive to scan their brains every year.”
Experts have found another way of diagnosing these degenerative diseases at a much earlier stage without the need for regular scans of the brain.
Using data to detect when diseases first develop
It is hoped that the project led in Newcastle by Principal Investigator and Professor of Visual Neuroscience Anya Hurlbert will use data from millions of commonly taken eye scans to detect when the diseases first begin to develop.
Anya explains: “The retina at the back of the eye is basically an outpost of the brain and the only part of the central nervous system we can see directly from the outside. We know that in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease the retina is affected.”
Dr Will Innes, a consultant medical ophthalmologist at Newcastle’s RVI continues, “By using Optical Coherence Tomography – OCT scanning – we can scan a patient’s retina in a matter of seconds.
“Incredibly detailed images of the retina can be captured with almost microscopic levels of detail. The scans are quick and cheap, and increasingly available at high street opticians. However, getting information out of the scans can be rather more tricky and can take quite a lot of training.”
Identify those at risk before symptoms develop
AI tools have already been designed to interpret the OCT images and detect common eye diseases. The aim of Octahedron is to use NHS data to teach computers how to detect early signs of neurological disease via retinal imaging. Ultimately, the project will help to identify those at risk earlier, before other symptoms develop.
Charlotte Allen, from Durham lives with Parkinson’s as a patient and carer and recalled when she first noticed something was wrong. “I went to a friend’s wedding reception and all of a sudden, I couldn’t dance.
“I think this study to me is extremely important being able to spot Parkinson’s earlier – that is an amazing thing to think about.”
The Octahedron project is part of a wider commitment by the NHS to becoming a world leader in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning and harness the benefits on offer from the technology that range from faster and more personalised diagnosis to potential efficiencies in screening services.
AI revolution
Today’s announcement supports a range of technologies at different stages of development, from concepts to first real-world tests to the scaling of AI products to a number of NHS sites to generate further evidence for potential adoption in the NHS. Each product will undergo robust testing and independent evaluation to ensure they are effective, accurate, safe and value for money.
Sir Simon Stevens, NHS Chief Executive, said: “The NHS is determined to take advantage of the artificial intelligence revolution and ensure we are harnessing the latest and best technologies to improve care and save more lives.
“The technologies we’re funding today have the potential to transform how we deliver services such as screening tests, cancer treatment and stroke care for thousands of patients right across the country.”
Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “AI has huge potential for transforming healthcare and freeing up medical professionals’ time – these awards are just the start of an exciting pipeline of new technology that will identify new ways to diagnose, screen and treat illnesses ranging from dementia and sepsis to antibiotic resistant infections and problems in pregnancy.”
The AI in Health and Care Award forms part of the NHS AI Lab and is managed by the Accelerated Access Collaborative in partnership with NHSX and the National Institute for Health Research.
Matthew Gould, chief executive of NHSX, said: “We have seen through the NHS response to covid how the adoption of new technology can transform and open up the NHS from increasing use of video and online consultations to the significant rise in the use of 111 online and other digital services.
“Through the NHS AI Lab we want to see this transformation continue with the safe adoption and spread of state of the art data driven technologies that will save the NHS money through better internal systems and enhance the care our clinical teams can provide to patients.”
Perfect location to trial and test new technologies
Lord Darzi, chair of the Accelerated Access Collaborative, said: “The AAC and the AI in Health and Care Award are helping to cement the UK’s international reputation as the perfect location to trial and test new technologies.
“Today we have backed a range of innovators from academia, industry and the NHS to develop and deliver AI tools and products that can transform our health system and ensure we continue to be a world leader in medical science and research.”
The NHS AI Lab, announced by the Prime Minister last year, is a key part of the health services’ efforts to drive up the use of innovative new technologies.
As part of the selection process each applicant had to commit to complying with the laws and regulations that protect health and care data as well as the NHS’s Code of Conduct for data-driven technologies.
This is ensuring that AI is developed in a safe, ethical, evidenced and transparent way that puts patient privacy first.
AI in Health and Care Award
The £50m funding award is managed by the NHS’s AI lab and NHSx, a digital transformation unit set up last year. The aim of these is to “drive forward the use of AI and machine learning across the NHS” and ensure the health service has an “open door for all those who want to use its capabilities to save lives and improve treatment”.
Watch this video to find out more about Octahedron: https://vimeo.com/416870359/01b475c446
