MHRA Launches Second Round of Applications for Innovative AI MedTech Testing

Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and medical technology expert, announced a £1 million funding boost for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) AI Airlock program. This initiative expands a unique regulatory testing ground allowing companies to collaborate with regulators to safely test AI-powered medical devices and expedite their patient access through streamlined regulations. Applications for the second round of the program opened on June 23, 2025, following a successful pilot phase that validated four innovative AI technologies aimed at personalized cancer treatment and real-time AI performance monitoring. The ‘sandbox’ environment helps separate experimental technologies from approved medical devices. Government officials, including Science Minister Lord Vallance and Health Minister Baroness Merron, supported the program as a vital step towards safely integrating AI in healthcare and reducing bureaucratic barriers. Eligible candidates must demonstrate significant patient benefits and present new treatment approaches for the Airlock program. Applications close on July 14, 2025.

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