The Cancer Vanguard has launched a unique and innovative opportunity for a select group of industry, academic and third sector partners to work with it on projects to improve the early diagnosis of cancer.
The Cancer Vanguard, part of the NHS new care models programme, is a partnership between three leading cancer centres (The Christie, The Royal Marsden and UCLH) and covers a population of over 10 million. Together we are working to change the way that cancer care is provided.
The aim of the Early Diagnosis Industry Challenge is to engage expertise from outside the NHS to undertake a small number of high impact projects which will ultimately lead to a tangible improvement in the earlier diagnosis of cancer in the NHS. The call will close on 30 March 2017.
The Challenge will focus on two outcomes:
1. Increasing the proportion of cancers detected at stages 1 and 2
2. Reducing the proportion of cancers detected through accident and emergency departments.
The Challenge team are looking for a wide range of early diagnosis projects which would benefit from access to the Vanguard’s knowledge and resources.
We anticipate that successful projects would help improve earlier diagnosis through developing new ways of testing and scanning for cancer; delivering improvements to how patients access services and how patients are referred across clinical teams in different parts of the NHS; and preventing cancer through public health campaigns or working with GPs.
The Industry Challenge follows on from the successful ‘Pharma Challenge’ which is pioneering novel partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry to make better use of cancer medicines.
Prof Kathy Pritchard-Jones, Chief Medical Officer for the UCLH Cancer Collaborative, said: “Earlier diagnosis is key to improving cancer outcomes and saving lives. We are excited to be launching this challenge to industry, university researchers and the third sector to work with the Cancer Vanguard to develop new and innovative ways of detecting cancer faster.”
“Whilst there is no direct funding available for successful applicants, there are several benefits to being involved in the programme. We’ll highlight three here but of course there will be others too. First of all, this is work with the Cancer Vanguard which includes three major cancer centres and covers 10m of the UK’s population – anything which is proven over that footprint would be a credible proposition to most who provide cancer services across the UK.
“Secondly, the Cancer Vanguard has clinical expertise who would be able to guide and improve any possible intervention aimed at improving early diagnosis. And, finally, as part of the programme for a year, partners will develop a much clearer route to having any potential proposition commissioned in the future.”
To submit a proposal, please read the attached Briefing Note and FAQ and complete and submit both part A and part B proposal forms to CancerVanguard@uclh.nhs.uk by 16.00 on Thursday 30 March 2017.