National blood cancer charity, Leukaemia Care, has launched Mia, an AI-powered assistant designed to help people affected by leukaemia access Patient Information Forum (PIF) accredited support and other essential advice whenever and however they need it.
Believed to be the first AI assistant of its kind developed by a blood cancer charity, Mia is available through the charity’s website and can answer questions on everything from financial support and treatment information to emotional wellbeing and practical guidance following a diagnosis.
Mia has been built using more than 9.4 million characters of Leukaemia Care content – that’s equivalent to approximately 1.5 to 2 million words, or around 3,000 to 4,000 pages of text. That content comprises information from 402 independent and PIF accredited sources, including patient guides, webpages, FAQs, support resources, policies and educational materials.
This extensive knowledge base gives users fast, accurate and relevant information around the clock, and in multiple languages rather than them seeking answers from unreliable sources across the internet.
Colin Dyer, chief executive at Leukaemia Care, said: “A leukaemia diagnosis can leave people with countless questions, which can spring to mind at all hours. We created Mia to help people access trusted information and support whenever they need it.
“People are often advised to avoid using online tools to learn more about an illness or condition due to the amount of mis-information that a search can open up. Our work to develop Mia has changed that advice – allowing people to use this trusted online tool that can only draw its answers from our accredited and approved information.
“It’s a closed loop, it does not trawl questionable sources across the internet, which can lead to even greater stress at a particularly delicate time.”
Since being introduced in May (2026), Mia has already begun helping visitors navigate the challenges that often accompany a blood cancer diagnosis, answering questions ranging from “Where can I get financial support?” to “How can I help my friend who has just been diagnosed?”
The next phase of the AI-assisted website will include a private ‘portal’ of information, built up by the visitor based upon the questions they’ve asked and the advice they’ve received. The charity also says that in doing so, it will save both money and resources by not having to print batches of information, as everything will be bespoke to the user.
The new website and AI capability was made possible by private funding, wholly ringfenced for this project, meaning not a single penny raised through Leukaemia Care’s funding initiatives was used.
Colin Dyer, added: “AI is transforming the way organisations support their communities. By combining innovative technology with trusted information and human expertise, Mia has the potential to make support more accessible for people affected by blood cancer across the UK and beyond while significantly reducing our reliance upon providing printed materials.”
Mia is now live and available to visitors on the Leukaemia Care website www.leukaemiacare.org.uk
