Cancer Prevention Group We are a group of epidemiologist and population researchers studying the causes of or early events in the development of cancer. Our aim is to be able to interfere and prevent cancer or diagnose it whilst still easy to treat. The team conducts research evaluating current approaches to screening and investigating potential new screening technologies. We have a track record of research that has changed cancer screening guidelines and policy. We study how to optimise the efficacy and cost-effectiveness and minimise the harms of screening programmes. We research technologies to improve existing screening programmes; and others for cancer sites for which screening does not yet exist. Our core funding comes from Cancer Research UK. Overview We evaluate current approaches to screening and study new screening technologies. We study how to optimise the efficacy and cost-effectiveness and minimise the harms of screening programmes. We do this by: Generating evidence on: Screening intervals Benefits and harms of screening at different ages Reasons for differences in screening performance Researching risk-based screening and the potential for personalised screening regimens Studying technologies that could improve existing screening programmes; or help develop screening at new sites. For example: We are studying vaginal self-sampling which may improve cervical screening coverage. We are working with Professor Fitzgerald’s group in Cambridge on the BEST3 study. This investigates the potential of a Cytosponge to screen for Barrett’s oesophagus and reduce mortality from adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. We will assess polygenic risk with the goal of developing risk-based personalised screening intervals for breast and prostate cancer. We also specialise in the study of cancer statistics, including: Methodology to improve design and analysis of cancer screening studies. Estimating the natural history of pre-cancer to improve screening programmes.
