Using AI to predict risk of chronic diseases 

Starting with the number 1 killer, Heart failure 

Well researched and tested technology from a dynamic team

Our client is revolutionising how and where chronic disease is diagnosed, treated and prevented and who funds the resource required to achieve this:

  • The “how” is achieved using a scalable, efficient AI model that can predict the risk of onset of various chronic diseases within a 5-year period.
  • The “where” is using electronic health records within primary care, enabling early intervention and improved outcomes in terms of increased rates of patient survival and reduced hospital admission and treatment costs.
  • The “who” is their target customer within pharma, medical devices and health insurance who would fund the pre-screening, and subsequent screening, clinics with no financial cost or resource requirements from within the primary care practices.

 

Our client has a list of chronic diseases that will predict the risk of onset and are starting with heart failure.

Our client is seeking a number of investing non-exec directors (NEDs) to join their board and help accelerate their mission. Ideal candidates will bring one or more of the following areas of expertise to the team:

  • Commercial Strategy: Track record in business strategy, fundraising, or establishing strategic partnerships with experience scaling early-stage healthcare or technology ventures.
  • Industry Expertise: Knowledge of primary care, cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, NHS Digital regulatory requirements or AI-based health solutions.
  • Network & Influence: Strong connections within healthcare providers, policymakers, or funding institutions (e.g., pharma, medtech, insurers) to drive market penetration and support future fundraising rounds.
  • Financial Expertise: A CFO with accounting experience in start-up and growth companies.

 

Our client values candidates who are passionate about making a tangible difference in healthcare, particularly with an interest in healthcare equity for underdiagnosed populations.

The incoming NEDs will be encouraged to become shareholders in the company with an initial investment of circa £50k to align their interests with that of the existing board members. A copy of the pitch deck will be provided to candidates who meet the criteria and on signing an NDA.

The company is registered for EIS & SEIS tax relief.  

Background, Market and Opportunity

The Heart Failure (HF) problem and our client’s solution:

  • HF costs the UK £2.3 billion annually, accounting for 2% of the total NHS budget.
  • 200k new diagnoses are made annually, with an estimated further 400k cases undiagnosed.
  • 80% of heart failure cases are diagnosed in hospitals, despite one-third of patients presenting to primary care in earlier years, and women are twice as likely than men to be misdiagnosed.
  • Patients diagnosed in hospitals are nearly twice as likely to die compared to those diagnosed in the community.
  • Research shows that early identification and intervention in primary care could reduce hospital admissions by 34%.
  • Their model analyses routinely collected primary care data in electronic health records to predict the risk of heart failure.
  • At-risk patients are invited to a full screening, facilitating early detection and intervention of the disease.
  • Existing manual solutions show significant impact but lack the scalability that our client can offer.

 

Since its inception, our client has developed a proof of concept ready to pilot with healthcare and industry partners and the project is endorsed by the Cheshire & Mersey Network Cardiac Board.  It is now poised to:

  • Fine-tune the HF model on a larger dataset and complete technical validation.
  • Launch a small-scale clinical pilot by mid-2025 to validate the model in real-world primary care settings; engaged with a pharma and a medical device company interested in partnering with us on the pilot.
  • Secure regulatory approval and scale through commercial partnerships.
  • Expand the model to address related conditions like chronic kidney disease and diabetes.
  • Enter global markets and cement them as a leader in scalable AI-driven healthcare solutions.

 

Applying for the role:

 

Candidates who feel they meet the above criteria are invited to apply having first registered their CV with First Flight Non-Executive Directors (if they have not already done so – there is no charge) by using our “Apply for Role” tab for role no: 1249 and completing the application form explaining how they match the key criteria we have set out for the role.

Closing date for applications: Friday 28 February 2025

Success Stories