News

£1.9million for cancer diagnosis research

(21 October 2009)

Durham University cancer researchers will benefit from a £1.94m grant for a research programme aiming to improve cancer diagnosis.

The grant, from the National Institute for Health Research, will fund the DISCOVERY programme (DIagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer), led by the University of Bristol, with four University partners – Durham, Cambridge, Oxford and Cardiff – and NHS Bristol. The programme aims to improve cancer diagnosis through six interlinked projects. It will consider the issue from the patients’ aspect (why they do or do not attend surgery with a symptom) and the GPs’ aspect (what is the risk of cancer when a symptom is mentioned?), and will examine what is the optimum method of organizing investigations for suspected cancer. It will also look at wider systemic questions such as what are current referral patterns; what level of risk needs rapid investigation, and how can the system be improved, both from an economic and a societal perspective? Professor Greg Rubin of Durham University’s School of Medicine and Health said: “This grant reflects the importance attached by the NHS, through its Cancer Reform Strategy,to achieving earlier diagnosis of cancer. “Throughout this research programme we will be working closely with those responsible for improving cancer services.” Dr Willie Hamilton of Bristol’s Department of Community Based Medicine said: “We are delighted to have receive this grant as it builds on the strengths of all the partner universities. It is very rewarding to work in the field of cancer diagnosis as the patient benefits of such research are so immediately tangible.” The project begins in January 2010 and will run for five years.