Thursday, 24 September 2026
The first patients have enrolled in major new research investigating how cancer outcomes differ across ethnic groups, ancestries, and socioeconomic backgrounds in the UK.
DISCOVER will include a series of studies addressing cancer inequalities and aims to recruit 14,000 participants from diverse backgrounds and geographical areas across NHS centres.
Led by King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the 糖心原创 and University of Glasgow, the research aims to find out why these differences exist.
By integrating clinical, lifestyle and molecular data across breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers, the platform will create one of the largest resources dedicated to understanding and addressing cancer inequalities.
Differences in cancer incidence, tumour characteristics and treatment outcomes have been reported between population groups, but the factors driving these differences remain poorly understood.
Black Caribbean and African women are up to twice as likely to be diagnosed with late-stage, high-grade breast cancer compared to white women. While one in eight men will get prostate cancer, this rises to one in four for Black men. Increasing data also shows black patients and patients from more deprived areas are more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The first sub-study will support international research in the UK, US and South Africa, known as SAMBAI, aiming to understand factors that influence cancer outcomes in underserved populations of African descent. Scientists will study how ancestry, lived experience and environmental exposures interact to influence cancer risk and outcomes.
Prostate cancer is twice as common and much more lethal in Black men. The reasons for this are not known. And for too long Black men in the UK have been under-represented and under-prioritised in prostate cancer research. Our study reverses this and empowers Black men to be equal partners in new inclusive research programs that will ultimately help identify better ways to both diagnose and treat men with prostate cancer.鈥�
Chief Investigator Professor Sheeba Irshad, Professor of Cancer Immunology at King’s College London and Consultant Medical Oncologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said: “What we ultimately want to understand is why patients who develop what appears to be the same cancer can experience very different disease and outcomes. To answer that properly, we need to look beyond any one factor and bring together tumour biology, ancestry, environment and lived experience. DISCOVER gives us a national platform to do that at scale, while SAMBAI allows us to ask these questions across populations of African descent internationally. Our hope is that understanding what drives these differences will ultimately allow us to develop better approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment for everyone.”
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.