The Royal Marsden partners with NTT DATA and CARPL.ai to launch AI-powered radiology service for cancer research
The NIHR-funded collaboration aims to improve cancer detection and diagnosis through advanced artificial intelligence models in medical imaging
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has partnered with NTT DATA and CARPL.ai to develop an AI-powered radiology analysis service aimed at supporting cancer research and improving diagnostic pathways. The platform is designed to enable the development and evaluation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in medical imaging.
Funded by a three-year grant from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the service will be used by researchers at The Royal Marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). It will also be applied to collaborative projects with other research institutions. The focus will be on improving the evaluation and detection of several cancer types, including sarcoma, lung, breast, brain and prostate cancers.
“AI has immense potential to support clinicians in diagnosing and treating cancer earlier and more precisely,” said Professor Dow-Mu Koh, Professor in Functional Cancer Imaging and Consultant Radiologist in Functional Imaging at The Royal Marsden. “By working with NTT DATA and CARPL.ai, we’ve created a scalable research environment that allows us to explore the full potential of AI safely and in a way that could one day transform cancer diagnosis and treatment across the NHS.”
The new service operates on a clinical imaging machine learning operations (MLOps) platform developed and managed by NTT DATA. The infrastructure relies on high-performance computing solutions using Dell servers, combined with advanced GPU capabilities. CARPL.ai’s platform facilitates the deployment and management of radiology-focused AI models, allowing researchers to test and validate new algorithms.
NTT DATA is also offering specialist consulting support to help researchers evaluate AI applications in clinical environments. These services are intended to help extract insights from both in-house and commercial AI models.
Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said: “Our 10 Year Health Plan will modernise the NHS, replacing outdated systems with cutting-edge digital solutions. While this trial is in its early stages, it represents exactly the kind of collaboration between the NHS, industry and academia that will help build a health service fit for the future. Early detection saves lives, and innovations like AI will transform how cancer is diagnosed and treated – helping patients receive faster and more effective care.”
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: “Cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK. That must change. This three-year grant will help researchers push the boundaries of AI-driven technology for cancer detection and diagnosis.
“This AI-powered service represents the cutting edge of cancer research and it is going to transform treatment, better support NHS staff and ultimately change patients’ lives. It is another great example of how NIHR-funded and supported research will ensure the best care is there when patients need it.”
Tom Winstanley, Chief Technology Officer at NTT DATA UK & Ireland, commented: “This service is a great example of responsible innovation in practice, showing the ethical, secure use of AI in healthcare. We are very proud to support The Royal Marsden in pushing the boundaries of cancer research.”
Once fully operational, the platform will allow research teams to evaluate a wide range of AI models across multiple cancer types. These studies aim to generate insights on how AI can support clinical decision-making. Through CARPL.ai’s central interface, researchers will monitor model performance and enable faster feedback loops between algorithm development and real-world testing.
NTT DATA will continue to collaborate with The Royal Marsden during this next research phase, which will contribute to ongoing efforts to advance cancer care across the NHS.
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