AI-assisted radiotherapy planning for cervical and head and neck cancer
Official title: ARCHERY: Artificial Intelligence based Radiotherapy treatment planning for Cervical and Head and Neck cancer
Funded at University College London · NIH-11399432 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses artificial intelligence to make radiotherapy planning faster and more accurate for people with cervical or head and neck cancer, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
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 start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $25,800 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA269143-03S5 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399432 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with cervical or head and neck cancer who are planned to receive radiotherapy at a participating center, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not receiving radiotherapy, those with cancers outside the targeted sites, or those needing highly individualized or experimental radiation approaches may not benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would have your CT scans processed by AI that automatically outlines tumors and nearby organs at risk and suggests radiation beam positions and shapes, with clinicians reviewing the results. The team plans a non-randomized prospective study enrolling about 706 patients (roughly 353 with cervical cancer and 353 with head and neck cancer) to compare AI-generated plans to current practice. Researchers will measure plan quality, time saved, and economic impact with the goal of reducing planning time from weeks to less than a day and lowering workforce needs. The work is led by University College London in collaboration with partner treatment centers, focusing on sites where radiotherapy access is limited.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could shorten radiotherapy wait times, improve treatment accuracy, and expand access to curative radiotherapy in resource-limited settings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies of AI auto-contouring and automated planning have shown promising accuracy and time savings, but large prospective clinical evaluations in LMIC settings remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University College London
London, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aggarwal, Ajay — University College London
- Study coordinator: Aggarwal, Ajay
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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AI-powered radiotherapy planning for cervical and head-and-neck cancer
A computer program helps plan radiation therapy for cervical and head-and-neck cancer patients to make treatments faster and more accurate.
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AI-powered radiotherapy planning for cervical and head-and-neck cancer
A United Kingdom study is testing AI software that helps plan radiotherapy for cervical and head-and-neck cancer patients to save time and reduce the workload for clinicians in low-resource settings.
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AI-powered radiotherapy planning for cervical and head-and-neck cancer
A UK research team is testing an AI-based software to automatically outline cancer areas and plan radiation beams to speed up treatment for cervical and head-and-neck cancers in LMICs.
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AI-Powered Radiotherapy Planning for Cervical and Head & Neck Cancer
A new AI tool helps plan radiation therapy for cervical and head-and-neck cancers to save time and reduce the need for specialized staff.
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AI-powered radiotherapy planning for cervical and head-and-neck cancer
A UK study from University College London uses AI to plan radiotherapy for cervical and head-and-neck cancers to save time and reduce the need for specialized staff, aiming to help patients in LMICs.
-
AI-powered radiotherapy planning for cervical and head & neck cancer
A non-randomized study will test an AI system that helps plan radiotherapy for cervical and head & neck cancers to save time and resources in LMICs.
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.