Professor Fiona Gilbert

I am an academic radiologist who works on assessing new imaging technology and how it impacts on patient care and outcomes. My clinical expertise is in imaging breast cancer. I am currently working on early cancer detection, biomarkers to predict cancer and response to neoadjuvant therapy, and on novel imaging techniques such as sodium imaging with MRI. With my CRUK programme grant I led the BRAID trial (Breast Screening: Risk Adapted Imaging for Density) in which we compared three different supplemental imaging techniques (Contrast mammography, Whole breast ultrasound and Abbreviated Magnetic resonance Imaging). The interim results were published in the Lancet (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00582-3/fulltext). I am working on Artificial Intelligence and the impact on radiology and patient care. I have collaborated in developing AI algorithms with academic groups and commercial companies. I am testing new research and commercial AI tools. I am co-lead of the EDITH trial (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health) which is a large prospective randomised trial of how AI should be used in mammography screening. I have created a very large cohort of screening examinations to test algorithms and use for predicting breast cancer. I am comparing different AI tools for predicting breast cancer from screening mammograms. The aim is to establish whether any of the mammography based tools can be used to personalise breast screening.  

I have over 300 peer reviewed publications and over £26 million in grant applications. I am a regular speaker at international Radiology conferences including RSNA in Chicago and ECR in Vienna. I am a member of the NIHR imaging science group and past President of the European Society of Breast Imaging. I have Honorary membership of Radiological Society of North America, Honorary Fellowship of the American College of Radiologists, Gold Medal from the European Society of Radiology, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.  

I am Lead advisor for AI for Clinical Radiology for the Royal College of Radiologists. With this role I try to expedite the safe introduction of AI into clinical practice in the NHS, working with different groups to reduce barriers, develop post marketing surveillance and audit tools.

Project/study information 

BRAID (Breast Screening: Risk Adapted Imaging for Density) – comparison of imaging techniques for early cancer detection in women with dense breasts (closed for recruitment). In women with normal mammograms an additional 16-19 cancers/1000 with contrast techniques were found which were smaller than those found by ultrasound. Follow-up is ongoing.  

EDITH (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health) is a large prospective randomised trial investigating how AI should be used in mammography screening. Over 660,000 women will be recruited and mammograms read with different AI tools to test whether one of the two human readers can be replaced. 

Prediction of breast cancer – commercial AI tools are being tested on mammograms to see whether or not a more personalised NHS screening regime can be created with altered frequency of imaging for those at increased likelihood of cancer and supplemental imaging for those with increased breast density with a risk of masking of cancer.  

Recruitment of PhD / Post doctoral students

We are actively recruiting PhD or postdoc students for the above projects. We seek individuals with an imaging or maths and a good undergraduate degree.  

Please contact Professor Fiona Gilbert for further information.