Viatel joins national bowel cancer screening programme

Microb-AI-ome uses AI-driven analysis of gut microbiome data to improve diagnostic accuracy

Life

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

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.

BowelScreen Ireland clinical director Prof Pádraic Mac Mathúna 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.

Prof 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.”

The 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.

TechCentral Reporters

Read More: BowelScreen Viatel