UK CanTest colleagues join major policy centre in early cancer diagnosis

Professor Willie Hamilton, CanTest Director of Research, has been appointed Early Diagnosis Lead of the £4.75 million National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Cancer Awareness, Screening and Early Diagnosis. He will work with CanTest colleagues Yoryos Lyratzopoulos from UCL, Fiona Walter from Cambridge, Richard Neal from Leeds, and a multidisciplinary team of researchers from other collaborating institutions.

The new unit aims to try and improve cancer treatment and survival rates. Professor Hamilton said:

“Early diagnosis of cancer is crucial to getting the best treatment and to improving chances of survival. This investment is part of an exciting national drive to improve diagnosis in cancer across the UK.”

The announcement is part of a £65 million total investment into 13 NIHR Policy Research Units, funded for five years. They aim to ensure that the government and arms-length bodies have the best possible information and evidence available when making policy decisions about health and social care.

The units will work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to determine priorities and provide evidence directly to the Secretary of State for Health, government departments and arms-length bodies, such as NHS England and Public Health England.