February 25, 2025 — Copenhagen, Denmark — Radiobotics has been awarded the upper funding limit of the SBRI Healthcare Competition 26 (Urgent & Emergency Care) – Phase 3 of £500,000 to support the NHS England in providing timely urgent and emergency care.
The SBRI Healthcare Competition 26 (Urgent & Emergency Care) – Phase 3 aims to identify innovations at an advanced stage of development that address accessing care, reducing length of stay, improving discharge, and supporting the NHS workforce.
SBRI is funded by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) which brings together industry, government, regulators, patients and the NHS, and is supported by the Health Innovation Network.
As part of the SBRI project, Radiobotics’ flagship solution RBfracture™ will be installed across three NHS Foundation Trusts to conduct a real-world prospective study with Oxford University Hospital acting as the clinical project lead.
“Winning this SBRI Healthcare tender highlights how well RBfracture aligns with the NHS’s urgent and emergency care needs,”
says Michael Lundemann, Chief Clinical Science Officer at Radiobotics.
“RBfracture is already improving patient outcomes by reducing missed fractures and optimizing patient flow. With this project, we aim to demonstrate additional benefits: Enhancing clinician experience and training for emergency staff while proving cost-effectiveness on a broader population level.”
SBRI Healthcare recognizes that the pressures on urgent and emergency care services are growing
Missed fractures on plain-film X-rays are the most common diagnostic error in the emergency department (NHS Resolution, 2022). Errors in fracture diagnosis can lead to poor outcomes for patients, complaints and litigation, and service inefficiencies, such as expensive and time-consuming referrals.
With an aging population driving higher demand for emergency services, the need for accurate and efficient diagnostic support is more critical than ever. AI-powered solutions like RBfracture can provide much needed relief from these pressures. However, widespread adoption depends on demonstrating more than just clinical value, but also a compelling business case.
“AI for fracture detection is no longer a concept — it’s a proven tool that enhances diagnostic quality. However, in healthcare, securing funding purely for quality improvement remains a challenge. This project will demonstrate not only the clinical benefits but also the economic case for AI, proving its role in delivering cost-effective, scalable solutions for the NHS,” says Lundemann.
Real-world prospective study led by Oxford University Hospital
The level 1 emergency departments at John Radcliffe Hospital and Horton General Hospital will serve as lead sites for this clinical project, providing real-world insights into the impact of AI-driven fracture detection in urgent care settings.
Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK. The study will also include level 1 emergency departments at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Minor Injury Units (MIUs) at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire NHS Trust, and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The twelve-month study will dedicate approximately half of its duration to data collection.
SBRI Healthcare is helping to shape the future of healthcare for the NHS
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has officially included Radiobotics’ RBfracture as one of four approved AI technologies to aid fracture detection on X-rays in urgent care settings across the NHS while further evidence is generated.
“The UK is making great strides to becoming a global AI superpower while improving public services,”
says Darren Stephens, Senior VP and Commercial Lead UK, Ireland, and EU at Radiobotics.
“There’s a real opportunity for AI to address critical challenges in urgent care, including clinician fatigue, distractions, and staff shortages. Through initiatives like the SBRI Healthcare Competition, the NHS is recognizing that supporting the system — from the workforce to the budget — will lead to additional patient benefits.”
About SBRI Healthcare:
The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare is a national award-winning programme. It accelerates innovative technologies in the NHS and the wider health and social care system, tackling unmet health and care needs.
The Programme is funded by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) which brings together industry, government, regulators, patients and the NHS, and is supported by the Health Innovation Network.
The Programme supports the NHS Long Term Plan goals including funding, staffing, reducing inequalities and alleviating the pressures from a growing and ageing population. It signals the challenges that the NHS and the wider system face in achieving these goals and invites outstanding entrepreneurs to put forward breakthrough innovations that can deliver improved outcomes of care.
Read the SBRI press release here.
Questions about SBRI Healthcare competitions should be sent to [email protected].
About Oxford University Hospitals:
Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK.
OUH’s collaboration with the University of Oxford underpins the quality of the care that is provided to patients, from the delivery of high-quality research, bringing innovation from the laboratory bench to the bedside, to the delivery of high-quality education and training of doctors.
About Radiobotics:
Founded in 2017, Radiobotics is an award-winning MedTech company dedicated to advancing musculoskeletal (MSK) radiology with AI-powered solutions. Radiobotics’ flagship solution, RBfracture™, is designed to support Emergency and Radiology with highly accurate detection of trauma-related findings, including fractures, dislocations, lipohemarthrosis, and effusions.
Radiobotics’ commitment to delivering precise, expert-level care in MSK imaging 24/7, regardless of time, infrastructure, or staffing constraints, has been recognized in the industry with numerous accolades, including Best New Radiology Vendor at the EuroMinnies 2022, a nomination for Digital Europe’s Future Unicorn Award in 2021, and a 2020 EIC Accelerator grant.
Media contact:
Elyse Sims
Head of Marketing, Radiobotics
