The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new AI-driven radiology research platform, developed in partnership with technology services provider NTT Data. Funded by a three-year grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the platform is built with support from Dell and aims to accelerate the development and validation of […]
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new AI-driven radiology research platform, developed in partnership with technology services provider NTT Data.
Funded by a three-year grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the platform is built with support from Dell and aims to accelerate the development and validation of artificial intelligence algorithms in medical imaging.
The goal is to improve the detection of cancer biomarkers – speeding up diagnosis, enabling more precise treatment, and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.
“AI has immense potential to support clinicians in diagnosing and treating cancer earlier and more precisely,” said Professor Dow-Mu Koh, 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 platform is built on a bespoke MLOps clinical imaging framework, operated by NTT Data. It combines Dell’s high-performance computing infrastructure with Carpl.ai’s orchestration software, enabling researchers to test, compare, and monitor AI models across a range of cancers.
Initial research efforts are focused on sarcoma, lung, breast, brain and prostate cancers. The aim is to fast-track the most promising tools into clinical settings.
NTT Data is overseeing the implementation and operation of the platform under a three-year agreement. The first phase is centred on supporting clinical researchers with use case testing – evaluating model performance across different cancer types and imaging modalities.
The company is also leading coordination efforts across the partnership. Dell has provided the underlying AI compute infrastructure, while Carpl.ai’s orchestration layer allows researchers to manage workflows and benchmark models.
NTT Data, a Japanese technology firm, is no stranger to healthcare. It is a founding member of the DRIVE innovation labs at Great Ormond Street Hospital – a hub focused on using data and emerging technologies to improve clinical trials. “We do lots of work around robotics, augmented reality, etc., so there’s a nice mix of delivering systems and doing exciting R&D,” Flann Horgan, head of healthcare sector, UK & Ireland at NTT Data said during a launch briefing.
Horgan explained that the company’s role goes beyond infrastructure, providing guidance to researchers on how best to apply AI models to specific clinical problems.
That includes bringing in a specialist AI imaging consulting team to help with advising on algorithm selection for each use case or modality.
The initiative has also drawn support from policymakers. Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health, called the platform a “collaboration between the NHS, industry, and academia that will help build a health service fit for the future.”
She added: “Earlier detection saves lives, and innovations like AI will transform how cancer is diagnosed and treated – helping patients receive faster and more effective care.”
Mike Lewis, scientific director for innovation at NIHR, echoed the sentiment: “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,” he said.
As the platform moves into its operational phase, research teams at The Royal Marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) will begin using it to benchmark and refine AI models.
Built-in monitoring tools within Carpl.ai will allow for real-time tracking of model performance, creating faster feedback loops between development and deployment.
Tom Winstanley, CTO at NTT Data UK & Ireland, called the launch a “great example of responsible innovation in practice,” adding: “We are very proud to support The Royal Marsden in pushing the boundaries of cancer research.”
