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.
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
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
Clinical Studies
Health Records Data
lmplementation
Latest publications
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Evidence for Access: Systematic Scoping Review of Access Systems in General Practice.
Journal article
Eccles A. et al, (2024), Br J Gen Pract
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Diagnostic accuracy of a point-of-care antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza in a primary care population (RAPTOR-C19)
Journal article
Fanshawe TR. et al, (2024), Clinical Microbiology and Infection
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Relationship Between Clinician Language and the Success of Behavioral Weight Loss Interventions : A Mixed-Methods Cohort Study.
Journal article
Albury C. et al, (2023), Ann Intern Med
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Future cancer risk after urgent suspected cancer referral in England when cancer is not found: a national cohort study
Journal article
Scott SE. et al, (2023), The Lancet Oncology, 24, 1242 - 1251
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Deceptive shifts in cancer stage distribution.
Journal article
Oke JL. and Welch HG., (2023), BMJ Evid Based Med
Blog posts
World Cancer Day: How research by Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences is advancing cancer detection and care
More than one thousand people receive a cancer diagnosis in the UK each day, making early detection and intervention critical for improving outcomes for patients. The majority of patients are first diagnosed after presenting cancer symptoms to their GP. This puts primary care in a unique and critical position to drive forward research that closes the cancer care gap – the theme of this year’s World Cancer Day.
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement: Working together to improve Cancer Care by Sue Duncombe
Sue Duncombe shares her experience of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement. After her husband died of prostate cancer, Sue wanted to support research in the hope other families wouldn't experience the same loss.
Bridging the Gap: Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit and Cancer theme join OCTO in CRUK Collaboration
In the UK today 1000 people will be diagnosed with cancer. The earlier a cancer is caught the more treatment options are available. A core strategy within the NHS Long Term Plan is to diagnose 75% of cancers at an early stage by 2028. Primary care plays an essential role in meeting this target with the majority of patients diagnosed with cancer first presenting to their GP with symptoms.
The Future of Diagnosis: Navigating Uncertainty
Claire Friedemann Smith, Brian Nicholson and Georgia Black reflect on their visit to the first in-person Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) conference since Covid-19 in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Our Team
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Katie Arundell
Study Coordinator
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John Buckell
Researcher
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Kiana Collins
DPhil Student
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Anna Dowrick
Senior Researcher
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Carmen Fierro Martinez
NIHR Pre-Doctoral Fellow
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José M. Ordóñez-Mena
Senior Medical Statistician
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Chloe Phillips
Research Assistant (Ann McPherson Fellow)
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Luke Robles
Post-doctoral Mixed Methods Researcher
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Tara Seedher
DPhil Student
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Pradeep Virdee
NIHR SCPR Post-doctoral Fellow & Medical Statistician
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Sufen Zhu
Dphil student
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