Check4Cancer

Research solution

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Innovate UK is a collaboration with the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at Essex, that aims to identify major cost reductions in the assessment of skin cancer across both private and public sector health care. The 24-month project is also supported by a Smart Grant from Innovate UK, that will allow development of the App and commercialisation of the skin cancer model.

The KTP project will develop an AI powered model based on Check4Cancer’s vast bank of more than 70,000 skin lesion images which are all labelled with a wealth of clinical information. Skin lesions are any skin area with different characteristics from the surrounding skin, including colour, shape, or texture, so can be an indicator of various conditions including skin cancer.

By working with Essex AI academics in image recognition, machine learning and algorithm development, Check4Cancer plans to harness both academic excellence and industry expertise to build on its vast bank of skin lesion images and associated clinical data to create an AI model that replicates the clinical excellence of its current clinical skin cancer model. Dr Haider Raza will lead the project with the support of Dr Alba Garcia Seco De Herrera and Professor John Gan.

Business value

The award of over £180,000 funds a data scientist to work full-time on the project for two years. The project will build on the work of Check4Cancer’s nurse-led skin diagnosis pathway for insured and self-pay patients that tackles long waiting times and helps to avoid unnecessary biopsies and surgical procedures. More than 80% of patients are offered an appointment within five days and only 14% of patients need to be referred for biopsy or treatment.

This KTP award is in addition to the Innovate UK Smart Grant also awarded to Check4Cancer this year. The UK Smart Grant is supporting the development of a ‘Skin App’ to take high-quality images to assist in the assessment of skin lesions. This will be integrated with the company’s Patient Management System and, the funding will also support commercialisation of the digital skin platform.