We’re calling for research to tackle inequalities in cancer early detection and diagnosis.
Funding to address this spotlight call is available through our early detection and diagnosis funding schemes. The call will be open for multiple funding rounds.
This spotlight call is part of our strategic approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research.
Find out more about our strategic approach to EDI in research
Our spotlight calls highlight key areas where dedicated research efforts are needed to improve patient outcomes. We encourage original, high-quality research proposals to address these areas. Funding is available through our existing schemes, as detailed for each spotlight call.
Cancer does not affect everyone equally. Disparities in stage at diagnosis across patient groups result in significant differences in outcomes and experiences. Such groups can relate to socioeconomic status, age, gender, ethnicity and geography. Different groups exhibit varied patterns of help-seeking behaviours and engagement with screening programs. Variations in exposures and biological factors may also drive differences in when and how cancers manifest and present symptoms among these groups. Research needs to bring together epidemiological, behavioural, biological and mechanistic insights. This will enable novel, equitable approaches to early detection and diagnosis across society. To successfully translate such approaches for patient impact, researchers should engage key stakeholders. This includes health system practitioners, policy makers, patients and the public.
A study across 10 solid tumour sites found that eliminating age, socioeconomic and sex inequalities in stage at diagnosis could increase early-stage detection rates by four percentage points, preventing over 10,000 late-stage diagnoses annually in the UK.
Read the study in the British Journal of Cancer
Our Cancer Awareness Measure Plus survey highlights disparities in symptom recognition. Men, lower-income groups and Black and Asian ethnic minority groups are less likely to recognise cancer symptoms. Women and Asian ethnic minorities are less likely to consider their symptoms as cancer-related.
Barriers to seeking medical help exist across various groups. Women and people from mixed, Asian and Black ethnic groups report difficulties securing appointments. Individuals with a disability struggle to obtain timely consultations, while LGBTQIA+ individuals and younger people are less likely to seek medical advice for symptoms.
Participation in cancer screening programmes is lower in ethnically diverse communities, deprived areas and among people with learning disabilities or severe mental illness. Additionally, there are disparities in follow-up appointment attendance for bowel and cervical cancer screening. While in some cases interventions have already been developed to address these gaps, they often lack the specific evidence requirements needed to progress their uptake into healthcare.
Tools used to predict an individual’s future risk of developing cancer to guide decisions around screening/interventions have been shown to perform less well in non-European populations. Certain tests also perform differently between populations or have not been studied equally. For example, black men are poorly represented in prostate-specific antigen trials, which has resulted in uncertainty around its effectiveness as a screening tool in these populations.
Read the study in BMC Medicine
We encourage research proposals that focus on developing novel approaches to reduce existing known inequalities in cancer detection and diagnosis. We also encourage proposals that seek to explore and address less well understood mechanisms driving inequalities.
Examples of potential areas include:
Identifying and validating early detection/diagnosis markers and technologies to address early detection and diagnosis inequalities and understand disease trajectories in high-burden populations.
Developing novel interventions to optimise symptom awareness, help-seeking behaviours and screening uptake in underserved groups.
Research to address evidence gaps in promising existing interventions to address inequalities that would enable their further development and adoption into clinical practice.
Adapting or developing early detection technologies/approaches to ensure effectiveness of early detection and diagnosis across all populations, including clinician decision support.
Watch our webinar for insights into our strategic priorities, the funding process and eligibility criteria for this spotlight call.
There will also be opportunities to take part in multidisciplinary networking events to discuss research topics and connect with potential collaborators.
Applications submitted under this spotlight call will be reviewed through the standard Early Detection and Diagnosis Research Committee (EDDRC) review process. This process supports a range of funding mechanisms through funding rounds held twice a year, including:
All applications will be considered alongside the full pool of early detection and diagnosis proposals, with primary evaluation based on scientific quality and relevance to early detection and diagnosis. However, applications of comparable quality may be prioritised if they address a strategic need in tackling inequalities.
We encourage proposals that demonstrate clear pathways to impact, integration with the healthcare system and potential for long-term sustainability.
For any questions or to set up an informal discussion on remit and the application and review process, contact our early detection and diagnosis research programme team.
Contact us
Whether you’re just starting your application or already hold funding, we offer guidance and support throughout your research career.
We’re advancing transformative cancer outcomes through research focussed on early detection of cancer and pre-cancerous changes, underlying biology of cancers, cancer emergence and progression.
Our strategic approach to equality, diversity and inclusion in research lays out a blueprint for how we will work towards ensuring beating cancer means beating it for everyone.
