WATCH: Our researchers explain groundbreaking TRANSFORM screening trial

Later this year, one man will make history as the first to take part in TRANSFORM – our £42 million trial to find the safest, most effective way to screen for prostate cancer.

But what will this once-in-a-generation trial actually look like, and how will it get us the evidence we need?

To help answer those questions, we’ve created three short videos. Each one tells a different part of the story – from why we need TRANSFORM, to how the trial works, and who can take part.

Together, they show how TRANSFORM could help protect thousands of men from a late diagnosis.

Why TRANSFORM matters

In the first video, we hear from Danny, one of our supporters who’s living with incurable prostate cancer.

For Danny, the importance of TRANSFORM is clear: if screening had been available earlier, his story might have been very different.

We also hear from two of the world-leading researchers behind the trial, Professor Rhian Gabe and Professor Hash Ahmed, who explain why the current situation isn’t good enough, and how TRANSFORM aims to fix that.

A smarter way to screen

Our second video dives into the science.

We speak to Professor Hash Ahmed and Professor Shonit Punwani, who explain how TRANSFORM will test several different screening methods – including fast MRI scans that take just 10–15 minutes, and genetic risk scores that help predict who’s most at risk.

And once researchers find the best approach, they’ll scale up to a massive trial involving nearly 300,000 men to prove that screening really can save lives.

Who can take part in TRANSFORM?

The final video, featuring Dr Victoria Vickerstaff and Dr Philip McNamee from Queen Mary University of London, delves into who’s eligible for an invite to take part.

That’s because, unlike many other clinical trials, you can’t just volunteer for TRANSFORM. Instead, the team will send out targeted invitations through men’s GPs.

The aim is to make sure the trial reflects what would happen in a real-life screening programme – giving us an idea of how many men would sign up for NHS screening if they were invited, and making sure the participants fully reflect the range of men across the UK.

This research will transform how prostate cancer is diagnosed.

To help support more vital research that could improve the lives of men with prostate cancer, please consider donating today.

Thank you.

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