Cancer

An open, collaborative, and multidisciplinary group working with clinicians, researchers, and patients to improve pathways to cancer diagnosis.

A major focus of the group is building interdisciplinary teams to deliver projects to improve cancer control in primary care with impact and direct patient benefit.

To do this the cancer research theme works closely with patients, primary care professionals, cancer charities, researchers from other disciplines and institutions, NHS commissioners, diagnostics services and companies, and cancer care in the hospital setting.

Example partnerships include the CRUK Test Evidence Transition programme, Oxford Cancer, the Oxford CRUK Clinical Trials Unit Collaboration, the NIIHR HealthTech Research Centre, the NIHR Policy Research Unit for Cancer Awareness Screening and Early Diagnosis and our Patient and Public contributors.

This multidisciplinary and collaborative approach enables the team to use the most appropriate research methodologies to address pressing research questions that have arisen out of direct clinical care.

Our work is organised into four themes: health records data, clinical studies, implementation science, and diagnostic reasoning.

Theme leads:

Brian D Nicholson

Associate Professor
Clare Bankhead

Professor of Epidemiology and Research Design

Cancer Sub Themes

We aim to produce high impact research that makes a difference to public health and healthcare provision. Click on the theme buttons below to view example projects.

Diagnostic reasoning

Diagnostic Reasoning

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Clinical Studies

Clinical Studies

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Health Records Data

Health Records Data

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Implementation

lmplementation

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Latest publications

Cancer inequalities in the United Kingdom and the data used to measure them: a scoping review
Journal article

Underwood S. et al, (2025), The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 52
Characterising the volume and variation of multiple urgent suspected cancer referrals in England, April 2013-March 2018: a national cohort study.
Journal article

Roberts K. et al, (2025), BMJ Open, 15
Doing 'detective work' to find a cancer: how are non-specific symptom pathways for cancer investigation organised, and what are the implications for safety and quality of care? A multisite qualitative approach.
Journal article

Black GB. et al, (2025), BMJ Qual Saf
Multimodal cell-free DNA whole-genome TAPS is sensitive and reveals specific cancer signals
Journal article

Vavoulis DV. et al, (2025), Nature communications, 16

Blog posts

A woman is comforted by a nurse in a medical setting

World Cancer Day 2025: United By Unique

On World Cancer Day, Dr Sharon Tonner reflects on the theme 'United by Unique', sharing how the team in our Cancer Theme is navigating and addressing the need for patient centred care and inclusive, equitable research.

Bringing together statisticians and patient and public contributors: our first PPIE Meets Statistics Training Event

Statistics is important in medical research but there are not many opportunities for PPIE contributors to engage with statisticians or learn about the statistical aspects of medical research. PPIE contributors often remain uncertain of what statistics is and the role of a statistician. We want to change that – the ‘PPIE Meets Statistics Training Event’ run by our Cancer group and PPI colleagues was the first step towards this goal.

A researcher stands on stage along with a seated panel, in front of a projected presentation.

Highlights from CRUKs Early Diagnosis Conference 2024

Researchers from our Cancer Theme recently attended this year's Cancer Research UK Early Diagnosis Conference in Birmingham, which focused on the theme 'Driving Evidence into Practice'. Here, Brian Nicholson, lead of our Cancer Theme, shares highlights from the event.

Young bearded man in casual wear taking dropper while mature female making system review. Efficient general practitioner checking solution for chemotherapy of male sitting on exam couch.

Early Onset Cancer and the Importance of Early Diagnosis

Cancer in the under 50s, known as early-onset cancer, is on the rise but the reasons behind this are complex. Here, Dr Sharon Tonner from our Cancer Theme Group discusses the increase and outlines the teams work to identify non-invasive tests which could be implemented in primary care to diagnose cancer at an early stage, when the best treatment options are available.