By Holly Hayes, Intern, Communications Team, National Screening Service
We are continuing to make progress in collaboration with Irish and international partners on the Microb-AI-ome project. This is a five-year EU Horizon-funded research project aiming to improve bowel cancer screening using microbiome analysis and artificial intelligence (AI). The study will investigate whether analysing the gut microbiome can help find early signs of bowel cancer more accurately.
Bowel screening programmes use a FIT test (faecal immunochemical test) to predict the need for colonoscopy to find early signs of bowel cancer. This screening method is effective at reducing bowel cancer incidence and deaths, but the limitations of the screening test can result in unnecessary colonoscopies for some people.
The project, which brings together researchers and institutions from five European countries, is exploring a screening approach that uses AI to analyse and read microbiome data. This novel approach could reduce the number of colonoscopies needed as a screening tool, leading to significant cost-savings as well as reducing the harm of unnecessary treatment for some screening participants.
Since the launch of the project in 2023, a secure, GDPR-compliant cloud-based platform has been developed which allows researchers to upload and manage large volumes of clinical and microbiome data for AI analysis. AI tools will be used to help identify patterns that may indicate an increased risk of bowel cancer.
In Ireland, three hospitals participating in our BowelScreen programme are involved in recruiting for the study. The research team is seeing strong participation rates, with around 70% to 80% of eligible participants agreeing to take part.
Key milestones over the next year include continued recruitment; ongoing sample collection, storage and transport; and analysis of the first batch of samples at the UCC laboratory in Cork, which is due to begin by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Commenting on the progress made, Clinical Director with our BowelScreen programme, Prof Pádraic Mac Mathúna said: “This project builds on our ongoing commitment to innovation and international collaboration in population health screening. With international collaboration across five countries and strong engagement from screening participants and clinical teams, the Microb-AI-ome project holds great promise. While it’s too early to say yet, this research could pave the way for a more accurate and efficient screening process that supports early detection and prevention of bowel cancer and reduces unnecessary colonoscopies – ultimately improving outcomes for screening participants across Europe.”