A GROUNDBREAKING AI-supported MRI screening service is being offered for patients in the Wellington and West Somerset areas to detect early signs of cancer and hundreds of other conditions.

US health-tech company Ezra has opened a clinic which uses a single multi-organ scan taking just 47 minutes, and an even faster 22-minute scan.

The clinic, on Taunton’s Blackbrook Business Park, also offers Low Dose CT lung screening (LDCT), widely regarded as the gold standard for early lung cancer detection, using significantly lower radiation than standard CT.

The new technology combines advanced artificial intelligence with MRI scans of the body and interrogation from expert radiologists to deliver fast, accurate, and comprehensive screening.

Ezra founder and chief executive Emi Gal said: “After witnessing the consequences of late-stage cancer within my own family, early detection became a personal priority.

“Ezra was founded to make cutting-edge cancer screening more accessible, without compromise on speed or accuracy.

“Taunton stands out as an ideal next location, combining world-class clinical expertise with a population increasingly invested in preventative health.

“With cancer diagnoses rising among under-50s and long NHS diagnostic waiting times continuing to affect patients locally, this opening marks a significant new option for people in Somerset who want proactive access to advanced imaging and earlier health insights.”

Ezra UK medical director Dr Dan Brook said: “The difference early detection can make to cancer survival is profound, yet one in two cancers in the UK are still diagnosed too late.

“This technology allows us to spot potential issues earlier, which is especially important for people with known risk factors or a family history of cancer.”

Each scan is reviewed by specialist radiologists and a team of medical professionals who categorise each finding with a score to highlight those which may require an urgent follow-up.

The MRI scans are non-invasive and radiation-free, offering peace of mind without exposing people to unnecessary ionizing radiation.

Up to 13 of the body’s major organs are scanned using non-contrast MRI imaging, including the brain, liver, kidneys, prostate, uterus, and spine, in under 60 minutes.

LDCT scans are designed to spot subtle changes in lung tissue long before symptoms appear, using significantly less radiation than a standard CT scan.

The new clinic complements the Government’s renewed focus on early screening programmes and prevention outlined in its recent NHS 10-year plan.

Ezra, which was was founded by Mr Gal in 2019, opened its first UK clinic in London in the spring of last year.

Since then, a host of different people have been scanned, helping about six per cent of patients with early diagnosis of issues which could be a future or imminent healthcare concern.

It has already scanned tens of thousands of people across 25 cities in the US.

Currently, about 392,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year, with 50 per cent of cancers diagnosed at late stages where treatment options are more limited.

In Somerset alone, a reported 2,681 urgent suspected cancer referrals resulted in a diagnosis in 2024.