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Current research into preventing cancer

Saving lives through our research

Our scientists are working to uncover the causes of cancer and discover new ways to reduce people's risk of the disease. Below are some examples of what our researchers are doing right now.

Our current researchers

Aspirin and cancer

At Queen Mary University of London, Professor Jack Cuzick is leading an international project to understand how aspirin might help to prevent certain cancers. By looking at large populations of people, the research group hope to work out who is most likely to benefit from the drug and who is at greater risk of bleeding side-effects. They also intend to unravel the mechanism behind aspirin's cancer prevention properties, which could help lead to a new drug with the same benefits but fewer side effects.

Identifying preventable causes of cancer

Professor Sir Mike Stratton and his team of scientists from around the world are building a deeper understanding of what causes DNA damage and how it leads to cancer. Their work could help prevent more cancers and reduce the global burden of this disease.

Read more about his research on our blog

Increasing smoking cessation

At University College London, Professor Jamie Brown is using new scientific approaches to target multiple levels of the smoking cessation system. The project aims to increase the rate of smoking cessation in the population using data from surveys, computational models, and new digital interventions to generate more effective interventions and reduce deaths caused by tobacco. 

Read about stop smoking services

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Past research

Thanks to research, we’ve helped people understand more about how cancer can be prevented and how they can reduce their risk of developing the disease.

Find out more about past research

Explore our timeline of research into preventing cancer

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Patients' stories

Meet people like Justine who have experienced first-hand how our research is making a difference. The life-saving research we do wouldn’t be possible without your support.

Read stories from cancer patients

Further Information

Want to find more information about our research or cancer prevention?

Find out more about clinical trials

More news about cancer prevention on Cancer News

If you're a researcher, find out how we can support your cancer prevention research