£10m funding for new programme to help identify individual cancer risk

Early detection of cancer is key to saving lives, because cancer diagnosed at an early stage, when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread, is more likely to be treated successfully. But according to our analysis of NHS figures, currently only 54.4% of cancers are diagnosed at stages one and two*.  

But that could all be about to change, thanks to a new research project which hopes to be able to predict an individual’s chances of getting cancer, which could help with earlier detection and prevention. 

Funding of £10 million for this new project, The Cancer Data Driven Detection programme, has been announced today by Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). 

Insights from data 

The Cancer Data Driven Detection programme aims to generate new models that could be used to help accurately predict who is most likely to get cancer.  

The programme will achieve this by accessing and linking data from different sources, including health records, genomics, family history, demographics and behaviour data. This will enable the researchers to develop advanced statistical models that can help scientists to accurately predict who is most likely to get cancer.  

“Finding people at the highest risk of developing cancer, including those with vague symptoms, is a major challenge,” said Professor Antonis Antoniou, Director of the Cancer Data Driven Detection programme and Professor of Cancer Risk Prediction at the University of Cambridge.  

“The UK’s strengths in population-scale data resources, combined with advanced analytical tools like AI, offer tremendous opportunities to link disparate datasets and uncover clues that could lead to earlier detection, diagnosis, and prevention of more cancers.” 

The programme will also develop powerful new tools which use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse the data and calculate an individual’s risk of cancer throughout their lifetime.  

“By leveraging AI to enable healthcare professionals to identify people at a greater risk of cancer, this initiative could improve the way patients are screened and diagnosed,” said Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR.  

“This programme’s AI-driven insights could lead to more effective treatment and improved survival, helping patients to live longer, healthier lives.” 

Building the infrastructure 

Over the next five years, the funding will build the infrastructure required to access and link these datasets, train new data scientists, create the algorithms behind the risk models and evaluate the algorithms and AI tools to ensure that they are giving accurate and clinically useful information about cancer risk.  

The scientific programme will be guided by partnerships with cancer patients, the public, clinical experts and industry, while addressing ethical and legal considerations to ensure that the models and tools work well in practice.

A new approach to preventative healthcare 

The models generated from this research could be used to help people at higher risk of cancer in different ways. For example, the NHS could offer more frequent cancer screening sessions or screening at a younger age to those at higher risk, whilst those at lower risk could be spared unnecessary tests.  

People identified as higher risk could also be sent for cancer testing faster when they go to their GP with possible cancer signs or symptoms. Individuals at higher risk could also access different ways to prevent cancer.    

“Earlier detection of cancer can provide a wider range of treatment options and save lives. This programme, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and datasets, could revolutionise early detection and intervention,” said Jane Nicholson, Executive Director of Research at EPSRC. 

“By working with a wide range of stakeholders, including cancer patients, the models and tools developed through the programme could equip individuals with the crucial knowledge about their potential for developing cancer.” 

Reaching targets 

NHS England has set a target to diagnose 75% of cancers at stages one and two by 2028, and this will only be achieved with research and through embracing new technologies to catch cancer earlier.  

Innovative new programmes like the Cancer Data Driven Data Detection initiative will be key to achieving this target and will help to revolutionise our understanding of cancer risk, moving us further towards a world where more people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.  

The Cancer Data Driven Detection programme is jointly supported by Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health & Care Research, the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, Health Data Research UK, and Administrative Data Research UK. 

* https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/physical-health/cancer-diagnosis-at-an-early-stage/latest/ (accessed 19th December 2024)