Cancer Research UK Funds AI Project to Simulate Patient Trials

A charity has provided £5.9 million in funding to researchers focused on enhancing cancer treatment through the simulation of clinical trials using artificial intelligence. This grant from Cancer Research UK is designated for a project spearheaded by the University of Manchester and The Christie cancer hospital. The initiative will assess the efficacy of radiotherapy treatments on “virtual” patients, whose profiles are derived from real-life data. According to lead research professor Rob Bristow, these simulated trials are expected to render research “faster, safe and less expensive” compared to extensive clinical studies. The Christie hospital and the cancer charity were pioneers in some of the initial research into radiotherapy during the 1920s. The charity explained that this treatment operates by employing X-ray radiation to eliminate cancer cells through irreversible damage to their DNA. Data from the charity indicates that approximately 44,000 individuals in the north-west of England receive a cancer diagnosis annually. The £5.9 million allocation will support the project for a duration of five years. An AI computer program generates virtual patient groups using real-world data, and treatments or devices are subsequently tested on these groups in simulated trials. Researchers stated that this methodology enables the testing of concepts at a quicker pace than conventional trials involving actual patients. The Manchester team’s efforts will concentrate on examining patient-specific genetics and tumours, alongside comparing a novel form of proton beam therapy against standard radiotherapy for individuals with lung cancer. A Cancer Research spokeswoman clarified that the charity awarded the grant to the city because it is “one of just seven centres of excellence in a UK-wide network that will accelerate advances in radiotherapy research.” Martin Storey, who underwent radiotherapy in a clinical trial to treat his lung cancer following his diagnosis in 2009, expressed his pleasure at the funding being directed towards improving the treatment. The retired delivery driver from Wythenshawe further commented: “Not everyone survives lung cancer, and I was one of the lucky ones to be able to go on a trial.” He continued: “Now thanks to research I’ve lived to be a great-grandad.” Storey also remarked: “I think artificial intelligence is the future and if more can be done with virtual trials to improve the effectiveness of clinical trials, then it will help more patients, and more people will be able to survive their cancer like I did.”