Medical AI provider to support Australian breast screening programme

The medical provider Lunit will supply its AI solution for the Cancer Institute New South Wales’ breast screening programme.

Lunit’s selection as the supplier of the BreastScreen NSW (BSNSW) State programme marks the first case globally in which an AI-based solution is being deployed by a national cancer screening organisation.

In 2021, the New South Wales’ cancer control agency sought proposals and test results from potential suppliers for the supply, fulfilment, and/or delivery of a BreastScreen Machine Reading Solution for detecting cancers in screening mammograms.

The AI solution for mammography analysis developed by Lunit was named as the preferred solution for this project.

BSNSW is part of the national BreastScreen Australia Program, which is jointly funded by the Commonwealth as well as state and territory governments with the aim to improve the survival rates of women with breast cancer.

The service aims to detect breast cancer early, providing free mammograms to women aged 40 and over.

Phase 1 of the BSNSW Machine Reading Project will validate the Lunit INSIGHT MMG solution to confirm the potential clinical benefits prior to operational deployment.

The AI solution will analyse and validate approximately 650,000 mammograms in comparison to historical reports delivered by BSNSW radiologists.

Phase 2 will conduct a prospective validation of INSIGHT MMG in the intended production workflow by assessing approximately 240,000 exams over an eight-month period.

The results will be analysed alongside radiologist reports to ensure an optimal integrated and secure workflow.

In Phase 3, operational deployment will see the solution integrated into the BSNSW PACS environment, assisting radiologists with all screening exams for approximately 350,000 women per year.

In this final phase, additional evaluations will be conducted to validate INSIGHT DBT—an AI solution for digital breast tomosynthesis—for clinical use.

Upon successful completion of all three phases, Lunit will secure a five-year operational contract with BSNSW.

“This is the first time Lunit has been awarded the opportunity to provide our AI solution for a national breast screen programme,” said Lunit CEO, Brandon Suh.

“We plan to proactively prepare for the rapidly increasing demand in national screening programmes around the world, in addition to actively seeking new business opportunities.”