17 July 2026
A pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) driven research study to improve heart monitoring for cancer patients has launched in Wolverhampton.
The project, known as AIRES – Artificial Intelligence Reconstruction of Echocardiography Study, will explore the use of advanced AI techniques to reconstruct and analyse routine echocardiograms at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT).
The study focuses on patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer who may be at risk of developing treatment-related heart problems.
AIRES is a world-first study to evaluate AI-enabled echocardiography in oncology patients.
The research will assess whether AI can improve the accuracy, speed, and efficiency of heart imaging, while also examining workflow, cost impact, and acceptability for patients and clinicians.
The study is expected to run for three and a half years and will include more than 500 echocardiography scans.
It aims to determine whether AI-based systems can help clinicians detect early changes in heart function more quickly and reliably, allowing timely intervention for the small proportion of patients who develop cardiac side effects from chemotherapy.
By streamlining reporting and analysis, the technology also has the potential to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for echocardiography services.
AIRES is led by Dr Sandeep Hothi, Consultant Cardiologist at the Heart and Lung Centre at RWT, Honorary Associate Clinical Professor, University of Birmingham and recent West Midlands Health and Care Research Scholar.
The study is supported by Dr Robert Crichton, the first clinician at RWT to be awarded a competitive NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI in cardiology under the supervision of Dr Sandeep Hothi, followed by Dr Joseph Olugunja as the Trust’s second fellow in the programme.
The research team also includes Dr Yat Li, Chief Clinical Information Officer at RWT, and academic collaborators from the Universities of Manchester, Cambridge, Leicester, Manchester Metropolitan University, National Heart Centre Singapore and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin.
Dr Hothi said: “AIRES is a unique opportunity to evaluate how different artificial intelligence technologies can enhance routine echocardiography for patients receiving cancer treatment.
“By assessing complementary AI approaches that improve image analysis and cardiac quantification, we hope to determine whether they can support earlier detection of chemotherapy-related heart dysfunction while improving efficiency and consistency.
“We are committed to a rigorous, independent and transparent evaluation to ensure that any future adoption is safe, effective and evidence-based.”
The study is supported through research funding and technology provided by Ligence AI and Ventripoint Diagnositcs Ltd. AIRES will assess these two complementary AI-enabled approaches to echocardiography:
• Ligence AI automates the analysis of conventional echocardiographic images.
• Ventripoint’s VMS+ provides AI-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction for cardiac MRI-equivalent measurements of cardiac volumes and function.
The study is sponsored by the Research and Development Directorate at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
Dr Yat Li, Chief Clinical Information Officer at RWT, said: “The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has a strong track record of embracing innovation to improve patient care. The AIRES project allows us to explore how artificial intelligence can be safely and responsibly used in echocardiography to reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient experience.”
The findings from the study may help shape future approaches to cardiac monitoring in cancer care across the NHS.
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NOTES TO EDITOR
About Ligence AI
Ligence Heart, is an AI-powered software that automates the measurement and analysis of 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) images and produces a structured report with several key cardiac structural and functional parameters.
For more information, visit: https://www.ligence.io
About Ventripoint Diagnostics Ltd
Ventripoint Diagnostics Ltd. (TSXV: VPT, OTCQB: VPTDF) has become an industry leader in the application of AI (Artificial Intelligence) to echocardiography. Ventripoint’s VMS products are powered by its proprietary Knowledge Based Reconstruction technology, which is the result of a decade of development and provides accurate volumetric cardiac measurements
equivalent to MRI. This affordable, gold-standard alternative allows cardiologists greater confidence in the management of their patients. Providing better care to patients serves as a springboard and basic standard for all of Ventripoint’s products that guide our future developments. In addition, VMS+ is versatile and can be used with all ultrasound systems from any vendor supported by regulatory market approvals in the U.S., Europe and Canada.
For more information, visit www.ventripoint.com.