Saving lives: Using AI to detect bowel cancer
Date: Thursday 3 April 2025 | Time: 17:30 - 18:30 (BST)
Location: Herschel Building, Newcastle University (online viewing also available) | Get directions
- Guest speakers
- Online viewing available
In the UK, there are approximately 16,800 deaths from bowel cancer each year – averaging to around 46 per day. However, according to new research led by Newcastle University academics, the use of artificial intelligence in colonoscopies significantly increases the detection of the early signs of bowel cancer.
Join Professor Colin Rees as he outlines his pioneering COLO-DETECT trial, where an AI tool called "GI Genius" was used to analyse potential bowel abnormalities during a colonoscopy. Conducted with around 2,000 patients across 10 NHS Trusts, this world-leading tech proved to be a successful way of finding more issues, sooner.
Meet Professor Colin Rees
Colin Rees is President of the British Society of Gastroenterology and Professor of Gastroenterology at Newcastle University. He leads the Newcastle University colorectal cancer research team and runs a large research programme on screening, prevention and early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
He has led some of the world's largest endoscopy studies recruiting over 20,000 patients. Trials include Discard 2, ADENOMA, BADENOMA and COLODETECT several of which have been practice changing. He leads the COLOCOHORT study which has (to date) recruited around 8,000 patients from 32 UK sites.
He has published widely on colonoscopy quality, improving colonoscopy, colorectal cancer screening and technologies to improve detection at colonoscopy. He led work on developing the Newcastle ENDOPREM as a measure of patient experience of endoscopy, which is being widely adopted into UK and international practice. He has won multiple awards for his research.
Colin is a 1990 Newcastle University graduate.
