New AI tech may prove a cancer game changer

COMPANY'S URINE-BASED BLADDER DIAGNOSTIC TO TRANSFORM TREATMENT

- GURDIP THANDI News Reporter

CUTTING edge technology developed with West Midlands “creativity, grit and passion” could transform cancer diagnostics and treatment across the world.

Quinton-based Nonacus has developed new AI technology to provide rapid, inexpensive and pain-free bladder cancer diagnostics which would be less invasive and cheaper than current tests.

The employee-owned company was visited by Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Gill and city council leader John Cotton to see the technology at first hand.

Mr Parker has identified health and medtech as one of the high growth sectors in his Growth Plan which aims to create tens of thousands of well paid new jobs in the West Midlands.

Nonacus’ bladder cancer diagnostics sees test kits sent out to patients who in turn send their urine samples back.

Instead of the current tests which sees a camera on the end of a scope being inserted into the bladder, Nonacus looks at DNA fragments from the urine sample to see if cancer is present and, if so, what type.