AI-assisted radiotherapy planning for cervical and head and neck cancer
ARCHERY: Artificial Intelligence based Radiotherapy treatment planning for Cervical and Head and Neck cancer
This project uses artificial intelligence to speed up and improve radiotherapy planning for people with cervical or head and neck cancer, especially in areas with limited specialist staff.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University College London NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, United Kingdom) |
| Project ID | NIH-11399431 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will use software that automatically outlines tumor and nearby organs on CT scans and creates radiation beam plans so doctors can treat cervical and head and neck cancers faster. It is a non-randomized prospective study enrolling about 706 patients (353 per cancer type) to compare the quality and economic impact of AI-generated plans with current clinical practice. The team aims to reduce planning time from weeks to less than a day and lower the need for specialized workforce. Data will be collected at participating cancer centers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to evaluate real-world performance and feasibility.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with cervical or head and neck cancers who are scheduled to receive radiotherapy at a participating center, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Not a fit: People with other types of cancer, those not receiving radiotherapy, or patients treated outside participating sites are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make radiotherapy faster, more accurate, and much more available in areas with few specialist staff.
How similar studies have performed: Previous AI tools for automatic contouring and treatment planning have shown promising accuracy and speed in pilot and single-center studies, but larger multi-center real-world evaluations are still needed.
Where this research is happening
London, United Kingdom
- University College London — London, United Kingdom (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aggarwal, Ajay — University College London
- Study coordinator: Aggarwal, Ajay
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.