Ethics and Feedback Advisory Group for the Accelerating Detection of Disease initiative

23rd July 2019

The ADD initiative is a government project which forms part of the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Grand Challenge on Artificial Intelligence and data. It aims to develop science and technology for the early detection and treatment of common diseases. The Ethics and Feedback Advisory group is providing input on the set-up of the project.

Excerpt from 23 July 2019 press release about the initiative:

Diseases could be detected even before people experience symptoms, thanks to a pioneering new health-data programme as part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy.

Businesses and charities are expected to jointly invest up to £160 million, alongside a £79 million government investment, as part of the Accelerating Detection of Disease programme. The project will support research, early diagnosis, prevention and treatment for diseases including cancer, dementia and heart disease.

The pioneering initiative will recruit up to 5 million healthy people. Volunteered data from the individuals will help UK scientists and researchers invent new ways to detect and prevent the development of diseases.

• Press release, "UK to innovate new life-saving treatment and diagnosis technology" at gov.uk

Department of Health and Social Care, Office for Life Sciences, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (2019) UK to innovate new life-saving treatment and diagnosis technology. [Press release] 23 July. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-innovate-new-life-saving-treatment-and-diagnosis-technology [Accessed on: 10 November 2020]