Artificial intelligence tools that could revolutionise patient care are being trialled in phase 2 of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) AI Airlock programme.
Seven manufacturers developing AI-powered healthcare technologies have been chosen to take part in the next stage of the initiative, which provides a controlled environment to test tools safely, assess their effectiveness and explore regulatory pathways.
The selected technologies include tools for clinical note taking, cancer diagnostics, eye disease detection, hospital stay summaries and blood test interpretation – all aimed at helping clinicians make faster, more informed decisions.
Health Innovation Minister Zubir Ahmed said: “The AI revolution is here and we want our NHS staff to be the first in the queue, armed with rigorously tested and evidenced clinical AI tools.”
Ahmed added: “The AI airlock programme is a great example of how we can test new innovations thoroughly while still moving at pace, as we seek to deliver on our promise to shift healthcare from analogue to digital.”
Lawrence Tallon, MHRA Chief Executive, explained: “AI technologies offer important opportunities to transform healthcare, but they also create new regulatory complexities, due to the rapid pace at which they are evolving.”
He continued: “The first phase of AI Airlock demonstrated the value of close collaboration between innovators and regulators. I look forward to seeing the results of this new cohort and how their technologies will shape the next generation of safe, effective AI tools in healthcare.”
Sir Andrew Goddard, AI Airlock Governance Board Chairman, said: “AI holds enormous potential for the NHS to become faster and better at managing health and illness.”
He added: “Many clinicians, like myself, are keen to see AI find its place in the NHS but are worried by over-promise on results and lack of reassurance with regards to patient safety.”
