Brian D Nicholson

BSc MBChB MRCGP MSc (Health Res) DPhil

GP NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer

  • NHS General Practitioner
  • Macmillan GP Facilitator - Oxfordshire
  • Affiliate Investigator - KPWHRI
  • Associate Editor - Family Practice

Contact information


brian.nicholson@phc.ox.ac.uk


+44 (0)1865 289300


ORCID ID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0661-7362

Diagnosis and Cancer in Primary Care

Brian's academic interests include cancer, global health, and evidence-based diagnosis. 

His research aims to improve diagnosis for patients with non-specific or vague symptoms of cancer. In particular investigating weight loss as a feature of cancer in GP patients (NIHR - LOWCAN), novel multidisciplinary models of care (ACE - SCAN), and the role of safety-netting in preventing missed opportunities for diagnosis (CRUK - CASNET/CASNET2/NETTD).

He evaluates how GPs can safely use tests to diagnose primary and recurrent cancer, including circulating DNA, Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT), and Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125). He collaborates with secondary care colleagues about myeloma, lymphoma, testicular cancer, colorectal cancer, and ovarian cancer.

He is a GP in Oxford City, and the Macmillan GP Facilitator for Oxfordshire working with Oxfordshire CCG and Thames Valley Cancer Alliance to improve local pathways for cancer diagnosis.

He has received funding from NIHR, NIHR SPCR, CRUK, Macmillan, and NHS England. He sits on the NCRI Primary Care Clinical Studies Groups for early diagnosis and survivorship, the ICBP clinical advisory committee, and CRUK's Population Research Committee.

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