A new Melbourne research centre will more accurately assess a woman's risk of breast cancer.

The My Breast Cancer RISK centre, launching at the University of Melbourne on Tuesday, will use artificial intelligence computer techniques to analyse mammograms for new breast cancer risk factors.

The centre will combine those findings with a woman's family history, lifestyle and other genetic testing to better classify their breast cancer risk.

MyBRISK will be working with radiologists, radiology services and women to devise ways to better detect breast cancers earlier.

The centre aims to create pathways for more effective personalised screening that can be used by both publicly-funded and private radiology services.

Current breast cancer risk assessment tools lack precision and are cumbersome, MyBRISK director Professor John Hopper said.

Tailoring screening to an individual woman's risk would ensure resources are better allocated and more accurate.

"Early detection through population screening is associated with survival benefits, and we aim to enhance this by bringing the benefits of new developments in AI and genomics," Prof Hopper said.

"Our project team will design ways to make screening more cost-effective and efficient through use of an automated web-based decision support tool that can be used by both women and health professionals."

The new Melbourne research centre has been welcomed by BreastScreen Victoria.

"For Australian women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and one in seven women will be diagnosed by the time they are 85 years old," chief executive Rita Butera said.

"This centre will complement the work we do and further bolster the availability of vital breast screening and early detection."