Assessment of Underlying Cancer Risk

20 June 2024

Background

Many opportunities exist to improve the selection of at-risk patients in primary care for urgent cancer investigation and achieve earlier diagnosis. However, these opportunities are not always realised due to unwarranted variation in clinical practice, limitations in our approach to risk-stratification, technological system-level barriers, and a lack of evidence for the optimal approach to proactive follow-up.

Aims and objectives

To investigate inequalities and unwarranted variation in test use and concordance with existing referral guidelines.
To enable the development, validation, and clinical implementation of risk stratification models.
To develop effective ‘safety-netting’ strategies to prevent premature diagnostic closure.

Policy Relevance & Dissemination 

Our findings will inform national strategy to overcome bottlenecks in cancer testing, and enable the implementation of technological innovation in primary care, and investment in innovations to prevent delays in cancer investigation. Publications, short reports, presentations and events will be used to disseminate findings to policy makers, regulators, academics and the public.

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