Supporting trials of AI in prostate cancer testing

An artificial intelligence-powered solution which could revolutionise prostate cancer diagnostics secured £2.25 million funding with our support.

Lucida Medical’s Prostate Intelligence™ (Pi™) AI platform helps to identify cancer from MRI scans, with the aim of improving detection accuracy and reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies.

Our team helped Lucida Medical to secure funding from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare. This award alongside recent traction of the clinical adoption of Pi™ in the NHS and internationally led to a further £8.7 million investment to advance the company and technology development.

The challenge

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around 52,800 new diagnoses and over 12,000 deaths each year.

Diagnosis is complex. The interpretation of MRI scans can be variable and resource-intensive, contributing to delays, missed diagnoses and unnecessary biopsies.

At the same time, demand for radiology services continues to grow, with a projected 40 per cent shortfall in radiologists by 2028. This is creating significant backlogs and delaying timely diagnosis and treatment.

Our role

Our team helped Lucida Medical to secure £2.25 million in funding through the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare in 2025, to accelerate the adoption of Pi™ in the NHS.

In Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Lucida Medical’s Pi™ is being used in a new clinic set up with the aim of carrying out key tests including biopsies, on the same day. This can reduce the number of hospital visits, shorten waiting times and help people get answers more quickly, reducing stress and anxiety for patients.

Up to ten other trusts are carrying out trials, with the support of fellow health innovation networks in Manchester, the South West and the East of England.

Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber is leading the patient and public involvement and engagement workstream for the evaluation of Pi™ in our region, with a specific focus on its use within the one-stop prostate cancer clinic model in Leeds.

Our role is focused on ensuring that patient and public perspectives shape how artificial intelligence is introduced within real clinical pathways. The project aims to support responsible adoption of AI, build patient trust and inform wider learning for the region.

A further £8.7 million investment was secured by Lucida to expand the platform into different cancer types, in April 2026.

Our team continues to support Lucida Medical with advice and guidance throughout its two-year programme to validate Pi™ and achieve implementation across NHS cancer pathways, by 2028.

Lucy Davies, VP Clinical at Lucida Medical said: “Lucida Medical aims to help clinicians and the NHS deliver the prostate cancer pathway, ensuring patients receive faster and accurate diagnosis.

“Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber have provided us with invaluable support through identifying funding opportunities, pilot sites and key stakeholders and decision-makers within the region.

“We look forward to continuing this collaboration as we work towards further spread and adoption of Pi™ into NHS pathways.”

The potential impact

• Improved diagnostic accuracy: AI-powered MRI analysis could help radiologists detect clinically significant cancers more accurately.

• Reduction in unnecessary biopsies: Use of the technology could decrease unnecessary prostate biopsies by around 20 per cent, improving patient experience and lowering NHS costs.

• Cost savings: If widely adopted, the system has the potential to save the NHS £10-20 million annually by optimising cancer diagnostics and reducing inefficient resource use.