Cancer
A 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.
This multidisciplinary 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:
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Brian D Nicholson
Associate Professor
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Clare Bankhead
Associate Professor
Cancer Sub Themes
Health Records Data |
Implementation |
Diagnostic Reasoning |
Clinical Studies |
Our Research
We aim to produce high impact research that makes a difference to public health and healthcare provision.
Projects
- BLOTTED: BLOod Test Trend for cancEr Detection an observational and prediction model development study using English primary care electronic health records data
- CASNET: CAncer Safety NETting
- CASNET2: A clinical trial to evaluate electronic safety netting for suspected cancer
- GLANCE: A mixed methods study investigating Gut feeLings for cANCEr in general practice
- LOWCAN: Loss Of Weight as a predictor of CANcer in primary care
- MAINROUTE: Monitoring Attendance INvestigations Referrals and OUTomEs
- MyPath: Pathways to Myeloma diagnosis
- NETTD: Safety-NETting for Timely Diagnosis in primary care
- SCAN: the Suspected CANcer Diagnostic Pathway
- SympFIT: Symptomatic Faecal Immunochemical Testing: Understanding the diagnostic value of FIT in patients with symptoms of colorectal cancer
- SYMPLIFY: A Study to check the performance of a MULTI-CANCER EARLY DETECTION blood test that may help early identification of many different types of cancer
Our Team
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Anna Dowrick
Senior Researcher
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Tara Seedher
DPhil Student
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Kiana Collins
DPhil Student
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Pradeep Virdee
Medical Statistician
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Latest publications
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Updated guidance on the use of Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) to help diagnose colorectal cancer among symptomatic patients in primary care
Journal article
JONES N. et al, (2023), British Journal of General Practice
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Association of Weight Loss in Ambulatory Care Settings with First Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in the US
Journal article
Kessler LG. et al, (2023), JAMA Network Open, 6
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Ten things I wish I had known about academic primary care
Journal article
Wanat M. et al, (2023), The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 73, 176 - 177
Blog posts
Non-specific symptom pathways: How are they working and where are they going?
When it comes to diagnosing and treating non-specific symptoms (NSS) in cancer patients, a holistic approach is essential. However, the implementation of non-specific symptom pathways and national policies promoting holistic care can vary greatly among healthcare providers. In our workshop presented at the Cancer in Primary Care conference at Worcester College, Oxford, we discussed key challenges and future directions for research in providing comprehensive care to those with NSS.