PharosAI, a research consortium comprising King's College London, Queen Mary University of London, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and Barts Health NHS Trust, has partnered with 10x Genomics to advance cancer research through the integration of artificial intelligence and spatial biology. The initiative, backed by £18.9 million from the UK Government's Research Ventures Catalyst and additional support from charities and industry, aims to create one of the world’s largest multimodal cancer datasets, combining genomic, transcriptomic, imaging, and spatial data from thousands of archived NHS tissue samples. Using 10x Genomics’ Xenium spatial platform, the consortium will transform decades of stored cancer tissue into high-resolution, AI-ready datasets. The platform’s ability to deliver reproducible, high-throughput results across large sample sets, along with customizable gene panels developed in collaboration with 10x teams, ensures the data will be tailored to key molecular features of breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers—initially focusing on breast cancer before expanding. Professor Anita Grigoriadis, CEO of PharosAI and Professor of Molecular and Digital Pathology at King's College London, emphasized the transformative potential of the project. “AI has the potential to revolutionize cancer care, but its progress has been limited by fragmented and inaccessible data,” she said. “PharosAI is changing that by building rich, integrated datasets paired with advanced AI models and analytical tools, enabling earlier diagnoses, more precise therapies, and faster discovery of new treatments.” The initiative will develop a suite of custom AI models designed to uncover hidden biological patterns in complex data, accelerating research in precision medicine. By linking spatial context with molecular profiles, researchers will gain deeper insights into tumor microenvironments, immune responses, and treatment resistance—information critical for developing targeted therapies. A key goal of PharosAI is to democratize access to these resources. The datasets and tools will be securely shared with researchers, clinicians, and innovators worldwide, fostering collaboration and innovation across institutions and borders. The project is set to run through 2027 and positions the UK as a global leader in AI-driven cancer research. Serge Saxonov, CEO and Co-founder of 10x Genomics, highlighted the importance of scalable, high-quality data. “Turning biological insight into real-world impact requires consistent, high-resolution data at scale,” he said. “Xenium enables PharosAI to unlock the hidden potential in archived NHS samples, creating the foundation for the next generation of breakthroughs in cancer research.” The collaboration exemplifies how combining clinical expertise, academic leadership, and cutting-edge technology can drive transformative advances in healthcare. By uniting institutions, public health systems, and industry partners, PharosAI is building a powerful ecosystem for discovery, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reshape the future of cancer care.