Precision liver study completes 1-year recruitment of nearly 1,000 participants using existing NHS data
Somerset, UK, 18th March 2026: Predictive Health Intelligence (PHI) and Sano Genetics today announced the completion of recruitment into the LiveWell study, with 996 participants enrolled from a single NHS site in less than a year.
Delivered in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which supported clinical oversight and research delivery, and Tawazun Health, and supported by Innovate UK, the milestone demonstrates how a data-led, participant-centred approach can dramatically improve recruitment speed and engagement in clinical research.
LiveWell uses hepatoSIGHT®, PHI’s case-finding software, to identify and stratify individuals at higher risk of metabolic liver disease using historic blood test data already held in NHS systems. Potentially eligible participants were invited through targeted mailings, then further screened and enrolled via the Sano Genetics platform. The platform enabled e-consent, at-home genetic testing, FibroScan appointment booking, and integrated data capture within a unified digital workflow.
Recruitment and engagement performance highlights included:
- 1,300 unique visitors to the study landing page
- a 95% engagement rate
- a 76% rate of conversion to sign-up
- 996 participants enrolled into the study with more than 99% going on to order a genetic test
This milestone is significant for clinical research sponsors and CROs, where recruitment remains one of the most common causes of trial delay and failure. Approximately 80% of clinical trials fail to reach their initial recruitment targets within the specified timelines, creating significant downstream costs for sponsors, delaying regulatory milestones, eroding portfolio value, and slowing the delivery of new diagnostics and therapies. This new approach demonstrates that enrolling a large number of participants in a timely manner is possible with the right data, risk analysis, and partnerships.
“This study demonstrates how the rich longitudinal healthcare datasets can be translated into precision case finding for genetic medicine trials. By combining secure data access with a compliant recontact, consent, and remote-testing framework, we enable systematic identification and engagement of eligible patients. This is an exciting demonstration of a scalable model for accelerating access to innovative therapies and trials.”
- Patrick Short, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Sano Genetics
It also matters for patients. Faster, more targeted recruitment enables research to progress at pace, accelerating innovation and improving the likelihood that new approaches reach clinical practice sooner. Participation in research is also associated with better outcomes, reflecting the benefits of structured follow-up, consistent engagement, and earlier identification of risk.
“This has been more than a study; it has been life changing for many of the participants involved, with the identification of liver and metabolic risks at a stage where intervention is achievable, and outcomes can genuinely be changed."
- Louise Campbell, Patient Advocate, and Founder and Clinical Director, Tawazun Health
For the NHS, the results provide a practical example of how research can be delivered at scale without adding burden to already stretched clinical teams. The UK has an ambition to increase the volume and pace of research across the health service, with the potential to attract significant inward investment if the NHS becomes a global centre of research excellence. LiveWell offers a replicable model for how high-performance recruitment can be achieved through better use of data and digital infrastructure.
“One of the central challenges in liver disease is identifying the right patients early enough to intervene meaningfully. Many people have minor abnormalities in their blood tests, but determining who is genuinely at risk, before it is too late, has traditionally been difficult. By combining longitudinal laboratory data with genetic risk, we can stratify patients far more intelligently. What LiveWell demonstrates is that this approach not only has clinical value, but also creates a scalable way to identify and recruit the right participants for research.”
Dr. Tim Jobson, Medical Director, Predictive Health Intelligence and Consultant Gastroenterologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
The LiveWell study aims to evaluate a new approach to identifying people at risk of metabolic liver disease earlier, using patterns in historic blood tests combined with genetic risk factors. Many people show mild abnormalities in blood tests, but it is not always clear who requires follow-up or intervention. By using longitudinal blood test data and genetics, LiveWell aims to help researchers better identify the right individuals earlier, supporting more targeted assessment and long-term follow-up.
The LiveWell study does not involve new medicines or experimental treatments. Participants are invited to provide a saliva sample for genetic testing and attend a non-invasive ultrasound-based FibroScan assessment to assess their liver health risk. Participant follow-up is ongoing, with genotyping and FibroScan assessments continuing, and an initial study read-out is expected later this year. The study partners continue to engage in new research opportunities for the benefit of patients.
This work was supported by Innovate UK Grant Number iUK 10073169.
About Predictive Health Intelligence
Predictive Health Intelligence is a medical technology company with a mission to end the late diagnosis of liver disease. They have developed a case-finding search engine to help clinicians identify people who might be at risk of developing chronic liver disease using existing, historical data. Identifying liver disease early, whilst more treatment options are available, can improve clinical outcomes and reduce the burden of late-stage disease on healthcare systems and individuals.
Predictive Health Intelligence was initially funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and is a part NHS-owned entity.
About Sano Genetics
Sano Genetics’ mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to precision medicine. Although accessibility to DNA sequencing has surged in the past decade, precision medicine studies have failed to keep up. They are still complex, time-consuming and costly, and many potentially life-changing treatments never see daylight.
Sano simplifies precision medicine studies with a 360° platform that connects every stage: strategy consultation, patient finding, biomarker screening, patient engagement and analytics. The company works with pharmaceutical companies and biotechs to find, screen, and engage participants faster and more cost effectively; with researchers to increase efficiency and impact; and with patient advocacy groups to drive research with and for their communities.
Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Sano’s diverse team combines years of expertise in medical research, genetics and security-focused software engineering.
About Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust runs acute hospital services, community services, mental health and learning disability services and a quarter of Somerset’s GP practices. It runs services from two acute hospitals – Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Yeovil Hospital in Yeovil – services in the community and services from the 13 community hospitals in the county, a range of mental health and learning disability services and Symphony Healthcare Services runs a quarter of GP practices in the county. The trust is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care and improving health outcomes through clinical excellence, research and innovation. It hosts an active portfolio of clinical research and works with NHS, academic and industry partners to develop and deliver studies that benefit patients and communities, supported by dedicated research infrastructure and experienced multidisciplinary teams.
About Tawazun Health
Tawazun Health is a CQC-regulated specialist provider of FibroScan liver assessments, delivering early identification of liver disease risk across healthcare, community, research, and corporate environments. Working with NHS partners, commercial sponsors, and independent organisations, Tawazun expands access to non-invasive liver diagnostics beyond traditional hospital pathways — enabling scalable deployment where services are resource constrained.
Media contact
James Hounsell, Co-Founder, Evolene Ltd, james.hounsell@evolene.co.uk