Odin Vision: detecting cancer earlier and reducing patient anxiety

Problem to be solved

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and outcomes depend heavily on early detection. During endoscopy, subtle lesions and polyps can be missed, and variability in experience and workload can affect detection rates. Clinicians need real-time support that improves consistency and helps identify suspicious tissue during procedures, without slowing down clinical workflows.

Solution

Odin Vision developed AI-driven software that analyses endoscopy images during the procedure and highlights areas of abnormal tissue, supporting clinicians to detect and assess lesions in real time. Built on research from UCL (including work by Professor Danail Stoyanov with clinical collaborators), the platform is designed to enable rapid deployment and updates, and has expanded to additional applications such as AI support for gastroscopy.

How UCL Ventures helped

Odin Vision was formed as a UCL spinout using the Portico Ventures fixed-equity model, supporting commercialisation of software and know-how where traditional patent routes are not central. UCL Ventures supported the founders to develop the business case and helped connect the company to early funding sources. 

In 2019 the company secured seed funding from investors including the UCL Technology Fund, alongside other co-investors, enabling the team to build the product and progress clinical evidence. 

As Peter Mountney, CEO of Odin Vision, explains: “Our system uses AI to analyse images from endoscopies during the procedure and draws boxes around areas of abnormal tissue.”

Where is Odin Vision now?

Odin Vision’s technology has achieved CE Mark approval and has been used in hospitals across multiple European countries. Through the NHS AI in Health and Care Award, the company secured funding to generate further clinical evidence to support wider NHS adoption. 

In 2023, Odin Vision was acquired by Olympus and established as its first Digital Excellence Center, enabling global scale-up and wider integration into endoscopy systems. Next, the focus is on expanding deployment, including progression towards the US market, and extending the platform to additional disease areas. Odin Vision has also developed CADDIE, an AI-powered tool that assists clinicians in detecting and characterising polyps during endoscopy. This technology is instrumental in identifying early-stage colorectal cancer, enabling timely and effective treatment