Could an eye scan speed up TB checks on cattle farms?
'AI for the Eye', an early-stage project by University of Edinburgh founder Michaela Thorne, uses artificial intelligence to look for signs of bovine tuberculosis in images of the eye. It was named runner-up in the KickStart Challenge at the Converge Awards.
Farmers in the UK could in future screen cattle for bovine tuberculosis (TB) more quickly using artificial intelligence that analyses images of an animal's eye. The technology is being developed by 'AI for the Eye', a project founded by Michaela Thorne of the University of Edinburgh. It took second place in the KickStart Challenge at the Converge Awards, a competition that supports early-stage university founders.
Why it matters
Bovine TB costs the UK more than £130 million a year. The disease is currently monitored through testing that can be slow, invasive and unreliable.
How the system would work
Thorne says the prize money will go towards building a retinal imaging prototype for cattle, so the device can be taken onto farms and used on live animals. In her view, the approach would let farmers and animal health professionals carry out an initial check without repeatedly handling livestock, making large-scale screening quicker and less disruptive.
The technology aims to help identify animals that may need further investigation, while improving animal welfare and supporting more efficient disease monitoring. It is meant to complement established veterinary tests rather than replace them, giving another source of information for decisions on further examination and disease control.
Next steps
The business is currently seeking investment to fund further prototype development and validation. Thorne said the award matters because it allows the business to be validated and moved forward.
Adam Kosterka, executive director of Converge, called the project a strong example of university innovation applied to a problem with real consequences for farmers, animal welfare and the wider economy. Converge has operated for 15 years, helping founders gain the expertise and networks needed to take ideas beyond the university.
