#United Kingdom #Oxford #Clinical Trials #Lindus Health #ARIA

Lindus Health Receives Funding from ARIA for AI Development

In a significant step towards revolutionizing clinical trials, Lindus Health, an innovator in clinical research, has secured funding from ARIA (the UK's specialized research and development funding agency) to create safe and reliable artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for clinical trial design. This initiative is part of ARIA's Safeguarded AI program, aimed at addressing critical gaps in AI safety and reliability in high-stakes industries such as healthcare.

The Project

The project titled Transforming clinical trial design using safe and reliable AI is set to be a collaborative venture with a research group led by Nobuko Yoshida from the University of Oxford's Department of Computer Science. At the heart of this collaboration lies a recognition that the safety and reliability of AI systems are paramount, especially in healthcare, where errors can have severe consequences, including loss of lives and erosion of public trust. Current AI systems, albeit powerful, often lack the necessary reliability for crucial applications like clinical trial design, where factors like hallucinations or biased decision-making can yield detrimental results.

A New Era of AI Safety

The Safeguarded AI program strives to pioneer a new standard in AI safety by fusing scientific world models with mathematical proofs. This dual approach aims to create AI systems that come with quantitative safety guarantees, comparable to those utilized in industries such as aviation and nuclear power. This advancement is expected to unlock transformative benefits in critical sectors while effectively mitigating risks associated with AI.

Advancements in Clinical Trial Design

Part of Lindus Health's groundbreaking efforts includes the development of an AI-assisted clinical trial design system, intended to validate the application of AI with mathematically proven safeguards for enhanced decision-making in trial planning. The research aims specifically at overhauling the currently fragmented and inefficient systems that frequently plague trial design processes, resulting in costly errors and the mismanagement of valuable historical data. Through this project, Lindus Health seeks to establish a solution that utilizes mathematical proofing techniques, providing clinical trial researchers with recommended best practices, along with verified safety guarantees.

The anticipated outcomes from this initiative include a substantial reduction in trial setup times, decreased costs, and heightened accuracy. The ripple effect of these advancements will ultimately accelerate the development of life-saving therapies, fostering much-needed trust in AI tools among clinical researchers, many of whom have shown reluctance in their adoption due to concerns over reliability and safety.

Perspectives from Industry Leaders

Nijat Hasanli, the Head of Product at Lindus Health, articulated the stakes involved when he noted, "Poor trial design can lead to various consequences that hinder scientific innovation, from time-consuming operational tasks to clinical trial failures. With ARIA, we're combining our AI and industry expertise to work towards eliminating these risks, setting every clinical trial up for success and transforming the way we develop medical interventions."

Adding to the conversation, David 'davidad' Dalrymple, Programme Director at ARIA, emphasized the need for strong safety assurances in AI, stating, "AI could unlock transformative improvements in our critical infrastructure, but right now adoption is limited because without ironclad safety assurances, we risk unintended and damaging consequences. Our goal is to prove that it's possible to develop AI with quantitative safety guarantees, and that this could unlock significant economic value for the UK."

Lindus Health's Ongoing Contributions

Lindus Health has consistently championed innovation within the field of clinical research, previously earning recognition for its proprietary AI technologies designed to predict trial outcomes based on historical data. This strategic approach not only informs better trial designs but also aids in rapidly generating trial protocols and other essential documents to expedite study startup processes. The company's proactive stance in partnering with organizations like The Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) further solidifies its commitment towards enhancing standards for sharing and submitting clinical trial data, in line with FDA expectations.

Lindus Health has received accolades for its contributions, featuring in notable recognition awards such as the Pinnacle Healthcare Awards and Sifted 100's fastest-growing startups in the UK. Presentations at key industry events including the CDISC + TMF Europe Interchange and CNS Summit further exemplify the company's leadership in pushing boundaries within clinical research.

For further insights on ARIA's Safeguarded AI project and its implications for the future of clinical trials, stay tuned for our comprehensive coverage of advancements in this field.

About Lindus Health

Lindus Health is fundamentally changing the landscape of clinical trials by running them faster and more reliably. The company employs a unique commercial model that aligns all stakeholders' interests and a world-class clinical operations team supported by a proprietary software platform, all while leveraging access to an extensive database of over 40 million Electronic Health Records. Their work has spanned various conditions across the US, UK, and Europe, driving advancements in treatments for diseases such as diabetes, asthma, obesity, and more.

As they continue to raise substantive funds (over $80M) from prominent investors, including tech leader Peter Thiel, Lindus Health is paving the way for the future of healthcare innovations through technology-driven clinical research.