AI-guided 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 standardize radiation treatment planning 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 ID | NIH-11399433 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, your CT scans will be processed by AI that outlines the tumor and nearby organs and suggests the radiation beam positions and shapes. Clinicians at participating hospitals will review and approve the AI-generated plans before treatment. The project will follow a total of 706 patients (353 with cervical cancer and 353 with head and neck cancer) to compare plan quality and the costs and time needed to make plans. The goal is to cut planning time from weeks to less than a day and reduce the workforce needed to deliver radiotherapy in resource-limited settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with cervical or head and neck cancer who are scheduled to receive radiotherapy at a participating treatment center are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not need radiotherapy, whose treatment centers cannot provide CT-based planning, or whose anatomy requires highly individualized manual planning may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make radiotherapy faster and more consistent, increasing timely access to curative treatment in places with limited specialist staff.
How similar studies have performed: Prior AI tools for contouring and planning have shown promising accuracy and time savings, but large prospective evaluations in low- and middle-income settings remain limited.
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.