Four projects using artificial intelligence (AI) to address racial health inequalities have been awarded £1.4 million by the NHS AI Lab and independent charity the Health Foundation.

The winning projects took part in a research competition as part of the AI Ethics Initiative at NHSX, which launched in March this year.

Subject to contract, the chosen projects are:

• A University of Westminster project to raise the uptake of screening for sexually transmitted infections and HIV among minority ethnic communities through an automated AI-driven chatbot.
• A Loughborough University’s project aiming to use AI to improve the investigation of factors contributing to adverse maternity incidents amongst mothers from different ethnic groups.
• A project at St George’s, University of London and Moorfields Eye Hospital aiming to ensure AI technologies that detect diabetic retinopathy work in different subgroups of the population.
• A joint project between University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust to lead STANDING Together, an international consensus process to develop diverse and inclusive standards for datasets underpinning AI systems.

WHY IT MATTERS

The NHS AI Lab introduced the AI Ethics Initiative to support research and practical interventions that complement existing efforts to validate, evaluate and regulate AI-driven technologies in health and care, with a focus on countering health inequalities.

It is also exploring algorithmic risks, in partnership with the Ada Lovelace Institute, and working with Health Education England to empower healthcare professionals to make the most of AI.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Earlier this year, European health innovation network, EIT Health launched an AI report from its Think Tank, urging healthcare providers to invest more in AI and tech post-pandemic.

In June, 38 new AI projects were announced as part of the NHS AI Lab's £140m AI in Health and Care Awards. A share of £36 million to test 'state-of-the-art' AI technology was invested in projects to help the NHS transform quality of care and speed of diagnoses for conditions such as lung cancer.

ON THE RECORD

Dr Indra Joshi, director of the NHS AI Lab at NHSX, said: “These projects will ensure the NHS can deploy safe and ethical Artificial Intelligence tools that meet the needs of minority communities and help our workforce deliver patient-centred and inclusive care to all.”

Josh Keith, senior fellow at the Health Foundation said: “Data-driven technology is having a profound impact on our health and health care system, but we need to focus on making sure the impacts are positive, so that everyone’s health and care benefits.”

Brhmie Balaram, head of AI research and ethics at NHSX, said: “We're excited to support innovative projects that demonstrate the power of applying AI to address some of our most pressing challenges; in this case, we're keen to prove that AI can potentially be used to close gaps in minority ethnic health outcomes.”