About Us
Our Mission
At PinPoint, we want to improve cancer diagnostics for everyone
– patients and families, nurses, doctors and healthcare providers.
One simple blood test and a clever piece of software can build a more intelligent, more efficient system that delivers help faster when people need it most.
Our Partners
PinPoint origins
PinPoint Data Science is based in Leeds, UK. Our team combines decades of expertise in the application of machine learning to cancer detection and a wealth of experience delivering healthcare innovation.
The idea...
Astrophysics PhD, Dr Richard Savage, begins to think about applying techniques used to study light from the big bang to detecting cancer signal in the blood.
A way forward...
As part of a UK-wide academic consortium on early cancer detection, ideas start to coalesce around machine learning as the way forward.
Pinpoint begins...
PinPoint Data Science formed as a company of like-minded scientists determined to improve how cancer diagnosis works.
Data Day...
26th April 2018, University of Leeds gives access to a database of over 370,000 cancer referrals used to develop the PinPoint Test.
Accelerator...
PinPoint CEO, Giles Tully, enrolled as Fellow of NHS Innovation Accelerator.
Funding...
Funding awarded by SBRI Healthcare and NHS England to support rapid evaluation of PinPoint Test.
An impetus...
COVID-19 drives urgent search for new approaches to cancer diagnostics and triage. PinPoint agrees to undertake an NHS real-world service evaluation aiming to test 18,000 patients.
Growth...
By 2019, the team was growing with new data scientists and a business team with decades of experience in healthcare, research and IVD validation.
AI updates
Updates to PinPoint AI show jump in diagnostic performance of algorithms. Test for Lower GI cancers is first to complete the evaluation.
Pilot scheme...
Fully funded pilot scheme to test up to 10,000 patients with suspected Lower GI cancers as first step to making test available to the public.
Next-stage...
Real world evaluation completes, Summer ’25. Five cancer pathways prioritised for next-stage development and deployment.
Looking ahead...
New data analysis reveals the potential for PinPoint as a screening and tissue-of-origin test. Data continues to be crunched…
The idea...
A way forward...
As part of a UK-wide academic consortium on early cancer detection, ideas start to coalesce around machine learning as the way forward.
Pinpoint begins...
PinPoint Data Science formed as a company of like-minded scientists determined to improve how cancer diagnosis works.
Data Day...
Growth...
An impetus...
COVID-19 drives urgent search for new approaches to cancer diagnostics and triage. PinPoint agrees to undertake an NHS real-world service evaluation aiming to test 18,000 patients.
Funding...
Funding awarded by SBRI Healthcare and NHS England to support rapid evaluation of PinPoint Test.
Accelerator...
PinPoint CEO, Giles Tully, enrolled as Fellow of NHS Innovation Accelerator.
AI Update
Updates to PinPoint AI show jump in diagnostic performance of algorithms. Test for Lower GI cancers is first to complete the evaluation.
Pilot scheme...
Next-stage...
Real world evaluation completes, Summer ’25. Five cancer pathways prioritised for next-stage development and deployment.
Looking ahead...
Our Team
Chief Executive Officer
Since joining PinPoint in 2017, Giles has taken a group of scientists with a great idea and grown the company into a dynamic, professional team with a burgeoning reputation. He has been able to translate the potential of machine learning in cancer diagnostics to secure NHS sponsorship, inspire investors and build a value proposition that applies across international healthcare markets.
Executive Chair
Originally trained in molecular pathology, Nigel has over 20 years’ experience of senior level roles in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, academia and the NHS. He has developed an international reputation for his involvement in innovation and the commercial development of medical & diagnostic technologies. Nigel works with Innovate UK to assess and mentor healthtech startups.
Chief Operating Officer
Rosie is a Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Leeds, where she previously worked in the NIHR Medical In vitro Cooperative. She has managed translation research programmes and worked within the IVD validation pathway for many years. Rosie has been instrumental in the success of PinPoint’s NHS service evaluation and Information Governance to facilitate software integration with NHS labs and LIM systems.
Chief Scientist
Chief Technology Officer
Matt is a mathematician who develops software to stop bad things happening to good people. After graduating with first class honours from Wadham College, Oxford, he joined BAE Systems’ Intelligence division where he built a range of data analysis software for a prominent UK government agency. He completed his PhD at the University of Warwick’s Statistics department with Dr Savage, developing machine learning techniques for the early detection of cancer by liquid biopsy.
Chief Medical Officer
Sean is a former National Clinical Director for Cancer with NHS England and is considered one of the world’s leading oncologists. Previously the Programme Director for the Leeds Cancer Programme, Professor Duffy was also a Consultant Gynaecologist. Professor Duffy supports PinPoint’s program of research to develop tools that will actually get deployed to help doctors make better, faster decisions whilst simultaneously improving the patient journey.
Senior Data Scientist
A theoretical physicist with a PhD in the application of statistical modelling to survival prediction and early cancer detection, Katherine has previously worked for the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, as part of the team defining global tumour classification standards.
Chief Communications Officer
A specialist in cross-cultural communications and stakeholder management, Patrick brings a wealth of experience in ops and creative strategy. He has a background in complex large-scale projects in areas as diverse as property development, exhibitions and advertising. Patrick joins us from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.
Senior Data Scientist
Jim is a data scientist and software engineer interested in advancing medical technologies. A computer scientist by background, he studied for his PhD in machine learning as applied to medical diagnostics, where he studied automated disease diagnosis using artificial olfaction, producing novel statistical algorithm for processing data from such devices.
Senior Python Developer
Gareth is a software engineer with a background in robotics and automation. He graduated with first-class honours from Liverpool University and worked as an R&D firmware engineer before joining the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry as a Research Engineer for the UK's high-value manufacturing sector. Part of this work included developing robotic solutions for hazardous working environments.
Quality Manager
Gerard originally trained as a chemist before moving into design, manufacture and regulation of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices. With over a decade of industry experience, his previous role as Quality Manager for a multi-test point-of-care platform made him an ideal fit to join PinPoint in 2024 to support the quality and regulatory compliance of the PinPoint platform of products.
Non-Executive Director
Liz brings an unprecedented depth of experience in UK healthcare to the PinPoint Board. She is the Chair of Kirklees ICB Committee and a former CEO of The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, and Chief Executive of the Innovation Agency, North-West Coast. She is National Chair for SBRI Healthcare funding panels and engages with innovators in the space as both mentor and consultant.