The British Institute of Radiology (BIR) has launched the BIR AI Academy, a growing programme of live, interactive artificial intelligence (AI) education for radiologists and imaging professionals. DeepHealth and Harrison.ai are its first industry collaborators.
Guests had a first look at the Academy on Tuesday 20 October at The Gherkin in London, with the venue provided by DeepHealth and participants also joining online. Dr Teik Choon See, BIR Vice President for Education and the Academy’s clinical lead, welcomed participants through a recorded address and chaired the panel discussion, The Reality of AI in Clinical Practice: Opportunities, Bottlenecks and Safety Netting.
The panel brought together perspectives from clinical practice and industry:
- Prof Andrea Rockall, Professor of Radiology and Clinical Chair in Radiology, Imperial College London
- Dr Jude Babar, Consultant Thoracic Radiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals & Clinical Director, Lung Cancer Screening HLH Group
- Dr Anna Sharman, Consultant Thoracic Radiologist, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust & National Lung Cancer Screening Lead
- Dr Niccolo Stefani, Business and Product Leader, Clinical AI and Population Health, DeepHealth
The discussion explored how AI moves from promise to practical impact, how its value is measured, the role of clinical collaboration, and why education matters for safe and confident use.
As AI becomes part of everyday imaging, professionals need opportunities to explore when, how and whether to use it in clinical practice. The Academy puts the clinical case at the centre of learning: participants examine AI outputs, question them with clinical experts and industry specialists, and explore where AI helps, where its limits lie and what this means for patients.
The programme is led by BIR and is clinically led and educationally independent. DeepHealth and Harrison.ai contribute real cases and access to the people developing and deploying AI, helping participants connect the technology with practical clinical decisions.
Dr Teik Choon See, Consultant Radiologist at Cambridge University Hospitals and BIR Vice President for
Education, said:
“The Academy will grow and evolve alongside AI, bringing new clinical areas, expertise and perspectives into the programme over time. Bring your questions, bring your scepticism, and bring your clinical judgement. Together, we can help shape how AI is used in imaging safely, thoughtfully, and with patients at the centre.”
The first full live session, The Lung Imaging Pathway: From Chest X-ray to CT, takes place online on Tuesday 8 December 2026, with DeepHealth and Harrison.ai exploring real cases live.
The initial series comprises six 90-minute interactive sessions. Sessions are free for BIR members and cost £65 per session for non-members. Further clinical areas will follow as the programme develops.
Find out more and register: https://bit.ly/485QaoG
