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Screening and early diagnosis

Showing 12 out of 35 results
A microscope image of cervical cells that have changed shape and size because of HPV infection. Most of the cells are blue, but some are pink or purple.
  • Science & Technology
  • Health & Medicine

From pre-cancer to cancer prevention

Studying pre-cancers helps us understand how and why cancer develops – and it can lead to new ways of stopping the process in its tracks Studying pre-cancers helps us understand how and why cancer develops – and it can lead to new ways of stopping the process in its tracks

by Tim Gunn | In depth | 19 November 2025

19 November 2025

A pill in a petri dish. The Pill is transparent but contains a compressed black sponge. There is a light blue thread attached to one end.
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science & Technology

Meet the capsule sponge

This sponge on a string could help stop oesophageal cancer – one of the hardest to treat cancers – in its tracks. This sponge on a string could help stop oesophageal cancer – one of the hardest to treat cancers – in its tracks.

by Amal Iman | In depth | 13 November 2025

13 November 2025

A corridor of computer servers

To get the most out of data-driven programmes we need to see some changes in the UK’s health data infrastructure. Here we explore what those changes need to be, and how programmes like CD3 can align with government’s priorities.  To get the most out of data-driven programmes we need to see some changes in the UK’s health data infrastructure. Here we explore what those changes need to be, and how programmes like CD3 can align with government’s priorities. 

by Ben Jones | Analysis | 19 March 2025

19 March 2025

Data centre filled with rows of servers

Today, Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are announcing £10 million to create the Cancer Data-Driven Detection programme, which aims to use data to identify individual cancer risk. Today, Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are announcing £10 million to create the Cancer Data-Driven Detection programme, which aims to use data to identify individual cancer risk.

by Amy Warnock, Graeme Sneddon | News | 22 January 2025

22 January 2025

The capsule sponge shown in pill form and sponge form. Both are black and attached to a white thread.

Our BEST4 Screening trial will give 120,000 people with chronic heartburn a 'pill-on-a-thread' test to look for signs of Barrett's oesophagus, a rare condition that can lead to oesophageal cancer. The results will show whether the UK can use the test for a new oesophageal cancer screening programme. Our BEST4 Screening trial will give 120,000 people with chronic heartburn a 'pill-on-a-thread' test to look for signs of Barrett's oesophagus, a rare condition that can lead to oesophageal cancer. The results will show whether the UK can use the test for a new oesophageal cancer screening programme.

by Tim Gunn | Analysis | 28 November 2024

28 November 2024

3D image of blood vessels in the hand, taken using a photoacoustic tomography scanner.

A new scanner, that has been developed by University College London (UCL) researchers, is able to generate highly detailed 3D images in seconds. Using this technology could offer the potential for earlier disease diagnosis in a clinical setting for the first time. A new scanner, that has been developed by University College London (UCL) researchers, is able to generate highly detailed 3D images in seconds. Using this technology could offer the potential for earlier disease diagnosis in a clinical setting for the first time.

by Sophie Wedekind | News | 15 October 2024

15 October 2024

This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Multi-cancer tests
Sânziana Foia in the lab with an image of Papcup, the new HPV test she has designed for cervical screening, on a laptop.

Sânziana Foia is developing a cervical screening device designed to detect high-risk HPV in menstrual blood within minutes. It could help remove some of the biggest barriers to cervical screening, helping many more eligible people take part.  Sânziana Foia is developing a cervical screening device designed to detect high-risk HPV in menstrual blood within minutes. It could help remove some of the biggest barriers to cervical screening, helping many more eligible people take part. 

by Sadaf Shafaghmotlagh | Analysis | 4 September 2024

4 September 2024

Stained cervical cells viewed under the microscope

More than million more women in England could take part in cervical screening over the next three years if they were offered do-it-yourself kits, according to the YouScreen trial. More than million more women in England could take part in cervical screening over the next three years if they were offered do-it-yourself kits, according to the YouScreen trial.

by Sadaf Shafaghmotlagh, Tim Gunn | News | 17 July 2024

17 July 2024

A crowd of people looking concerned on a hot day.

More UK adults are concerned about cancer than any other medical condition, and most people want to see a future where it can be diagnosed much earlier. More UK adults are concerned about cancer than any other medical condition, and most people want to see a future where it can be diagnosed much earlier.

by Tim Gunn | News | 15 July 2024

15 July 2024

A computer-generated image showing a DNA double-helix in a blood sample

Multi-cancer tests have the potential to detect multiple cancer types from a single sample. There's a lot to learn before we can use them. Multi-cancer tests have the potential to detect multiple cancer types from a single sample. There's a lot to learn before we can use them.

by Jessica Lloyd, Alice Brookes | In depth | 12 June 2024

12 June 2024

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Multi-cancer tests