AI Healthcare Pioneer

1905. Michael Bryan

Michael lost his father to Parkinson’s Disease when he was eight years old. When he was ten, he volunteered at the nursing home where his father spent the last year of his life, and began noticing a pattern in the facial features of residents with Parkinson’s. He was inspired to learn more about AI and how this could be used to map faces on smartphones which could then help diagnose and monitor the disease. Teaching himself to code, Michael created an app which was tested in 90 GP clinics across England and Wales, and helped 1,400 sufferers. While further development on the app has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael has continued to explore how AI models could be used in diagnosing other conditions, including Coronavirus, as well as looking at how these models can be improved by being more diverse. He is also leading on AI projects for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, where he has been a Governor since July 2021.

In a personal letter to Michael, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 

“I was lost in admiration to learn of your work and how it has developed new AI models and digital technologies to support the diagnosis of medical conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease.

I know that your thirst for medical advancement comes from your personal experience of losing your father at a young age to this cruel disease. It is inspiring to know how you have taken that profound loss and turned it into a quest for scientific knowledge. With your vital research, you are helping to lead the way in making our country a scientific superpower.”

Michael said:

“After losing my dad, I set out to improve the way we diagnose and treat medical conditions. Recognition through Points of Light offers an opportunity to reflect on what my team has been able to achieve. It enables me to thank them whilst providing a platform to encourage others to take the first step. To those reading, it is never too soon to start, to volunteer and develop your own initiative.”