A new AI-powered blood test capable of detecting 12 common cancers is entering trial on the NHS, marking a potential leap forward in early detection. Developed by the University of Southampton and biotech firm Xgenera, the miONCO-Dx test analyzes small fragments of tumor DNA in just 10 drops of blood. It has already shown 99% accuracy in both identifying cancer and locating its origin in trials involving 20,000 patients. Now, with £2.4 million in government funding, an 8,000-person trial will begin, with hopes of making detection faster, less invasive, and more accessible.
The test is being trialled alongside the renaming of a leading research lab in honor of the late Dame Deborah James, a beloved bowel cancer campaigner. The Bowelbabe Lab, backed by Cancer Research UK, will focus on advancing bowel cancer studies. NHS leaders say the test could reduce the need for invasive diagnostics while improving early-stage treatment outcomes. With bowel cancer causing 17,000 deaths annually in the UK alone, this innovation could be a game-changer—especially if proven effective in real-world healthcare settings.