TRANSFORM - National Prostate Cancer Screening Trial

Studying cutting edge approaches to detect prostate cancer.

Professor Rakesh Heer is co-leading the TRANSFORM study, which is the largest prostate cancer screening trial in the UK in 20 years. It will test the best way to detect aggressive cancers earlier and save lives. The trial is funded by Prostate Cancer UK, NIHR, and the NHS for over £40M. This landmark study will compare different screening methods including PSA blood tests, MRI scans and genetic risk scores.

Professor Rakesh Heer is also establishing the TRANSFORM Bio-Digital Twin. This will be a large repository of data and tissue samples including MRI images, digitised pathology slides, clinical and demographic data and patient tissue specimens.

Prof Heer emphasises the power of the Bio-Digital Twin to change clinical practice: “The huge bank of samples, images and data from the trial will be at a scale never before seen in prostate cancer. This treasure trove will help researchers around the world create and validate innovative new tests, treatments and AI tools to transform outcomes for patients with prostate cancer”.

Around 300,000 men will be invited to take part through GP practices, including Black men who face a higher risk of having and dying from prostate cancer. Researchers believe the study will identify a safe, accurate and cost-effective approach to screening. TRANSFORM could pave the way for the UK’s first national prostate cancer screening programme, aiming to reduce deaths and avoid unnecessary treatment for low-risk cancers.