
On 3 September 2025, we were honoured to co-host the Fifth Gathering of Belgian Researchers in the UK, titled “From Guidelines to Mindlines: Collective Intelligence in Precision Medicine” at the Residence of the Belgian Ambassador in the UK.
The reception was coordinated with the Embassy of Belgium in the UK, the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders to the United Kingdom and Ireland and the Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique.
The event brought together Belgian academics and researchers working in artificial intelligence across the UK for an evening of exchange, inspiration, and community building.
Exploring AI’s Role in the Future of Medicine
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Benoît Macq (Université catholique de Louvain), Director of the Technology and Society Class at the Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique. His lecture, “From Guidelines to Mindlines through Coalition-Based AI: Toward Collective Intelligence in Precision Medicine”, explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping medicine, making it more predictive, preventive, personalised, and participatory, while underscoring that trust in AI depends on care providers’ expertise, quality data, and respect for patient diversity.
Professor Macq presented a novel approach in which coalitions of hospitals collaborate to train AI systems. Starting from evidence-based medical guidelines, these coalitions develop shared “mindlines”, collective ways of thinking and decision-making that reflect real clinical practice. Through these mindlines, AI systems learn from the collective intelligence of practitioners and support doctors by detecting complex cases earlier.
This approach was illustrated through applications including:
- Polygenic scores to improve cancer prediction
- AI-assisted diagnostics in neurology and mental health
- Collaborative AI learning for early and complex case detection — all implemented within a secure, ethical, and locally respectful framework.
The discussion showcased how coalition-based AI can strengthen trust and transparency in healthcare innovation, while advancing precision medicine for diverse populations.
Connecting Belgium’s Scientific Community in the UK
Following the lecture, participants joined a networking reception attended by researchers from the TRAIL – TRusted AI Labs summer workshop, held in collaboration with King’s College London. The gathering offered an opportunity for members of the Belgian scientific community in the UK to exchange ideas and strengthen institutional ties.
The event was coordinated by Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) - Research and Innovation department, whose London office was established in 2023 to strengthen Belgium’s scientific and cultural presence in the UK, and by the network of Scientific and Academic Advisors who have played a central role in supporting the internationalisation of the Belgian research community.
Our sincere thanks to all participants and to Ambassador Jeroen Cooreman and the Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique for their continued partnership in advancing Belgian excellence abroad.