British and French researchers will join forces to tackle women’s health issues like endometriosis in new deal that will also use cutting-edge imaging and AI to study emerging viruses
Scientists in Britain and France will team up to tackle some of the biggest issues in women’s health and infectious diseases under a deal that could provide life-changing medical breakthroughs.
Both countries will use AI and data to tackle issues like endometriosis, as well as mental health and cardiovascular complications which can emerge as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. The move aims to unlock new treatments, speed up diagnosis and help women get better care.
Endometriosis, which affects around one in 10 women in the UK, is an agonising condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows in other areas like the fallopian tubes and lining of the pelvis. Sufferers can face nightmare waits for diagnosis of around nine years.
British and French researchers will also use cutting-edge imaging and AI to study infections like tuberculosis, malaria and emerging viruses. Experts will pore over global data on diseases like drug-resistant E. coli, to speed up detection of microbes which can resist treatments, to tackle infectious outbreaks and beef up the defences against pandemics.
Tech Secretary Liz Kendall announced the plans as she travelled to Paris for high-level talks with ministers from G7 countries. She said: “This ground-breaking partnership between the UK and France has the potential to deliver life-changing medical breakthroughs.
“By working together we can tackle some of the biggest challenges in women’s health, deliver safer and healthier pregnancies, and accelerate the fight against infectious diseases worldwide.”
Professor Richard Cornall, Head of the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford, said: “At a time of growing global health threats and rapid technological change, the Alliance brings together leading expertise in AI, advanced imaging and biomedical science to better understand, predict and treat complex disease.
“Starting with accelerating progress in women’s health, infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, we will create a powerful UK-France capability for biomedical innovation and the joint development of world-leading new technology.”
Ms Kendall is also expected to hold talks on online safety with G7 counterparts, as the Government weighs the response to a consultation on how to crack down on the social media wild west.