International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) enters its next phase with two new partners
Manchester will continue its leadership in early detection science following the successful renewal of the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED).
The £50m partnership between Cancer Research UK, University of Manchester, University College London, Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU and University of Cambridge will be joined by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the German Cancer Research Centre as the Alliance expands in the USA and Europe.
Professor Robert Bristow, Member Centre Director at Manchester and Current Chair of the Alliance Executive Board said “The next phase of the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection offers an exciting opportunity to identify, detect and intercept cancer earlier for people across the world. The Alliance expansion to other centres at DKFZ and Dana Farber brings in new expertise, resources, and infrastructure that can be leveraged to accelerate early detection discoveries.
“I’m delighted that Manchester continues to build its international reputation through this alliance, leading research programmes in immunology, hereditary cancer and inequalities. Trials such as the BCAN-RAY study demonstrate how early detection can be implemented effectively in community settings to improve risk assessment of breast cancer in young women.
“I’m also thrilled that ACED will provide the opportunity to train and upskill the next generation of cancer early detection scientists, creating the leaders of tomorrow.”
“The next phase of the expanding ACED network is an exciting opportunity for collaborations in early cancer detection,” said Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, incoming chair of the Alliance.
“I am especially excited to be leading a new theme on interception – as a community we recognise that intervening to stop cancer in its track is an essential part of our mission to reduce late-stage cancer.”
The next phase of the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection offers an exciting opportunity to identify, detect and intercept cancer earlier for people across the world. The Alliance expansion to other centres at DKFZ and Dana Farber brings in new expertise, resources, and infrastructure that can be leveraged to accelerate early detection discoveries.
Professor Robert Bristow
Member Centre Director at Manchester and Current Chair of the Alliance Executive Board
Making strides in early detection
Since 2019, ACED has established an extensive research portfolio encompassing biology, technology, and trials, with highlights including the BCAN-RAY study to improve risk assessment of breast cancer in young women, and the bespoke ACED Training Programme to support the next generation of early detection researchers.
Over the next five years, the Alliance will commit a further £50m in funding to accelerate cutting-edge research in four major programmatic areas – immunology, hereditary cancers, inequalities, and interception.
Dr Sam Merriel, Cancer Inequalities research theme co-lead and NIHR ACL at The University of Manchester said:
“Inequalities in cancer diagnoses lead to worse outcomes for certain patient groups. These inequalities can be driven by a range of factors, including ethnicity, social deprivation, and geography. The inclusion of the cancer inequalities research theme in ACED reflects the growing need for research in this critical area.
“I’m delighted to co-lead this theme where we can investigate the key drivers of inequality including enhancing diversity in recruitment for screening; implementing community interventions; adapting risk models to be more inclusive; and providing equity in multi cancer testing.
Dr Emma Woodward, Director of Research for ACED and Hereditary Cancer research theme co-lead and Honorary Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester said:
“The inclusion of hereditary cancers in the expanded ACED network offers us an opportunity to refine cancer risk models, develop adaptive models to understand how a cancer begins, and establish the feasibility of early detection tests.
“I’m delighted that the expanded membership allows us to collaborate with world-renowned institutions and scientists such as our co-leads at Harvard which have long standing excellence in this field, enabling world-leading research to reach more patients and their families across the globe.”
The inclusion of hereditary cancers in the expanded ACED network offers us an opportunity to refine cancer risk models, develop adaptive models to understand how a cancer begins, and establish the feasibility of early detection tests.
“I’m delighted that the expanded membership allows us to collaborate with world-renowned institutions and scientists such as our co-leads at Harvard which have long standing excellence in this field, enabling world-leading research to reach more patients and their families across the globe.”
Dr Emma Woodward
Director of Research for ACED and Hereditary Cancer research theme co-lead and Honorary Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester
Forging new ACED partnerships
ACED is unique in uniting world-leading researchers from institutions around the globe to tackle the most pressing challenges facing cancer early detection research.
The new partnerships with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the German Cancer Research Centre bring vital expertise and resources to accelerate research, as well as helping the Alliance to broaden its research community and raise its international profile.
For over 75 years, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has supported a range of cancer research, including basic science, clinical trials, population health studies, and community engagement. As the largest National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, they work alongside six other Harvard-affiliated institutions to train the next generation of doctors and scientists.
The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is the largest biomedical research institute in Germany with research spanning the entire translational continuum. Prevention is a major strategic focus of DKFZ, with the National Cancer Prevention Center combining high-level prevention research, education and training, and outreach and policy advice.
“By fostering partnerships between institutions, researchers, policymakers, and patients, ACED can accelerate progress, standardize best practices, and ensure that early detection strategies are widely accessible,” said Professor Michael Baumann, Member Centre Director at DKFZ.
“The involvement of various disciplines enhances our ability to address the scientific, medical, and societal challenges associated with early detection, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide.”
“Early detection plays a crucial role in reducing cancer mortality, but meaningful progress requires collaboration across disciplines and institutions,” said Professor Tim Rebbeck, Professor of Cancer Prevention and Member Centre Director at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
“The Alliance for Cancer Early Detection is driving this effort by bringing together leading experts to advance cutting-edge research and innovation. Through this collaborative approach, ACED aims to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, improve public health, and lessen the impact of cancer for people everywhere.”
Inequalities in cancer diagnoses lead to worse outcomes for certain patient groups. These inequalities can be driven by a range of factors, including ethnicity, social deprivation, and geography. The inclusion of the cancer inequalities research theme in ACED reflects the growing need for research in this critical area.
“I’m delighted to co-lead this theme where we can investigate the key drivers of inequality including enhancing diversity in recruitment for screening; implementing community interventions; adapting risk models to be more inclusive; and providing equity in multi cancer testing.
Dr Sam Merriel
Cancer Inequalities research theme co-lead and NIHR ACL at The University of Manchester
Bringing patients into the heart of research
Each of the four ACED research themes are supported by a patient advocacy champion, bringing patients and the public into the heart of cancer early detection research.
“As a global organisation, ACED offers the opportunity to provide a gold standard for Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activity, demonstrating the many areas within research that can benefit from patient involvement. We want to capture the benefits to research that PPIE can bring to encourage other organisations to take this approach too,” said Linda Galbraith, Chair of the PPIE Panel for ACED.
We look forward to the next stage of this one-of-a-kind strategic collaboration, as we continue to work together to revolutionise cancer early detection for real-world patient impact.
