News

• BowelScreen, as part of Ireland’s HSE’s National Screening programme, is part of an EU-funded Microb-AI-ome research project, which explores how AI and microbiome science could improve future colorectal cancer screening. 

• In collaboration with Viatel Technology Group and Microsoft, a secure, cloud-based data-management platform has been developed to safely store patient data. BowelScreen has facilitated the participation of three research hospitals to collaborate in the study and support secure AI analysis alongside international partners. 

• The project’s objective is to enhance early detection of signs of bowel cancer, with the potential to shape more accurate and efficient screening methods across Europe. 

• It aims to provide a more targeted screening test to predict pre-cancer and cancer changes, and reduce unnecessary colonoscopies for patients, ensuring timely treatment for those in need of colonoscopies, as well as providing cost benefits for healthcare delivery.  

BowelScreen, as part of Ireland’s HSE’s National Screening Service, is contributing to a major EU-funded research initiative exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) and microbiome science could shape the future of colorectal cancer screening.

As part of the five-year Microb-AI-ome project, the national screening programme is supporting research efforts through collaboration Viatel Technology Group as their technology partner.

The Microb-AI-ome project, funded by Horizon Europe, brings together institutions from five countries to investigate whether AI-driven analysis of gut microbiome data can improve the accuracy of bowel cancer screening. The research aims to reduce unnecessary colonoscopies, enhance early detection, and improve patient outcomes in the future.

Professor Pádraic Mac Mathúna MD FRCPI, Clinical Director, BowelScreen Ireland said:

“This research could pave the way for a more accurate and efficient screening process that supports early detection and prevention of bowel cancer and reduces unnecessary colonoscopies, ultimately improving outcomes for screening participants across Europe.”

For the AI to function effectively, it requires access to a broad and diverse dataset from volunteer screening participants. To ensure privacy and compliance, the Microb-AI-ome platform anonymises all sensitive information and retains it within secure cloud databases. To contribute to this international research effort, BowelScreen has facilitated the enrolment of patients by three research hospitals across Ireland, who will provide stool samples for microbiome analysis.

Viatel, leveraging Microsoft Azure technology, has developed the bespoke, cloud-based data-management solution to manage the Irish data repository.

Professor Pádraic Mac Mathúna added: “The platform we have devised with Viatel will allow us to analyse a huge volume of metadata generated from participants’ stool samples to make it interpretable as a signal to say the person is at risk, or is not at risk.”

James Finglas, Managing Director of Viatel Digital Services said: “This is game-changing for the potential use of AI in population-based cancer screening. It analyses millions of data points per patient to identify an individual’s risk of pre-cancer changes or bowel cancer. Consequently, this technology may identify those who need a colonoscopy, creating positive outcomes for patients.”

Security and compliance were paramount in the platform’s development. Fully compliant with Irish legislation and GDPR standards, the system ensures the highest levels of patient confidentiality and data protection.

“Viatel has the experience and expertise to develop what we need. It was really beneficial to have that collaboration between Microsoft and Viatel to be able to generate this platform for us,” Professor Pádraic Mac Mathúna said.

This initiative highlights the growing role of the AI sector in healthcare innovation, and underscores the importance of strategic AI roadmaps in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

“This is a tremendous example of how AI can be adopted in a real and meaningful way. A lot of people are talking about AI right now, but we’re immensely proud to be effecting change in our work to get the most out of Microsoft’s AI solutions,” James concluded.

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