The UK’s medicines regulator MHRA has secured further funding to expand its artificial intelligence testing programme, AI Airlock, with the aim of accelerating the safe rollout of AI-driven healthcare technologies.
The MHRA will receive £3.6 million over the next three years to scale up the initiative – the country’s first regulatory “sandbox” for artificial intelligence used as medical devices.
Backed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), which will provide £1.2 million annually from 2026 to 2029, the funding will allow the programme to move beyond short-term cycles and support longer, more ambitious testing of emerging technologies.
The AI Airlock programme brings together regulators, the NHS and industry partners to test AI tools in real-world conditions, helping identify risks and regulatory challenges before products reach patients. Officials say the expanded funding will create a more sustainable pathway for approving AI-powered medical devices.
Since launching in 2024, AI Airlock has grown steadily, with a second phase introduced in 2025. Early findings have highlighted new regulatory challenges posed by AI, including the need to reduce errors, improve transparency in decision-making, and monitor systems after deployment to ensure continued safety and effectiveness.
The programme has also examined a wide range of technologies, from large language models and voice-based tools to advanced diagnostics for cancer and rare diseases.
James Pound, Executive Director, Innovation and Compliance, said: "The programme has already shown how collaborative, real‑world testing can uncover regulatory challenges early and help innovators bring high‑quality, safe technologies to patients faster.
"This additional investment will allow us to scale up and ultimately strengthen our ability to ensure that AI‑powered medical devices can reach patients safely, efficiently and with the confidence of robust regulatory oversight."
Phase two findings, due to be published in summer 2026, are expected to inform the next stage of the programme and shape the UK’s long-term approach to regulating AI in healthcare.
