National Screening Committee FAQs for Health Professionals

What is the UK National Screening Committee?

The UK National Screening Committee is an independent committee that advises ministers and the NHS on all aspects of health screening, including whether to start, stop or change screening programmes.

It also supports the four UK governments with the implementation of new screening programmes, monitoring the balance of benefits and harms as well as their overall cost-effectiveness.

The committee works with partners to follow scientific developments in screening, including screening research, screening policies in other countries and emerging technologies. It aims to ensure all screening recommendations are embedded in a robust ethical framework and will help to reduce health inequalities.

Why don’t we already have a screening programme?

In the past, methods for diagnosing prostate cancer were unreliable and often led to men having unnecessary tests and treatments that could be harmful or lead to serious side effects. That’s why there’s never been a routine screening programme before – because previously, there wasn’t enough evidence to show the benefits outweighed these harms.

But today, things are different. We’ve been the driving force behind major improvements in the way we diagnose prostate cancer, making testing safer and more accurate than ever before – and effectively curbing the potential harms.

What is the latest NSC decision on prostate cancer screening?

Following its latest evidence review, the UK NSC has recommended a targeted screening programme for men aged 45–61 with a confirmed BRCA2 variant and relevant family history.

The NSC did not recommend population-wide screening, or targeted screening for Black men or men with family history alone, due to ongoing uncertainty about the balance of benefits and harms.

What are BRCA genes?

BRCA genes keep healthy cells growing normally, while preventing cancer cells from developing. We all have BRCA genes, which are passed down to us from our parents – but for a small number of people, these genes contain changes that stop them from working properly. These changes are known as gene variations.

BRCA gene variations are more commonly known to increase women’s risk of getting breast or ovarian cancer. The latest research suggests that men who have these variations are at higher risk of getting prostate cancer too. They may also increase their risk of getting an aggressive form of the disease that can grow and spread quickly.

*We are currently reviewing the evidence on the difference between BRCA1 and BRCA2 in relation to the NSC’s decision and will provide an update shortly. 

Why is prostate cancer screening not currently recommended for all men?

Screening is not currently recommended because of uncertainty about whether the benefits outweigh the harms, including risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Potential harms include overdiagnosis and overtreatment, which can lead to side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Further high-quality evidence is needed to determine whether screening for prostate cancer benefits can outweigh the harms.

What is TRANSFORM?

TRANSFORM is our large research trial to identify the most effective and safest approach to prostate cancer screening. 

Led by six of the world’s top prostate cancer experts and supported by a wider network of collaborating researchers from across the UK, TRANSFORM will investigate several different approaches to testing: including PSA blood tests, MRI scanning and genetic profiling.

Our aim is to find the most robust and viable method of diagnosing prostate cancer, which can be used as part of a routine, nationwide screening programme for all men.

What has been announced about TRANSFORM in June 2026?

The Government has announced additional funding to expand TRANSFORM, enabling all eligible Black men (aged 45–74 without a recent PSA test) to be invited to take part in later stages of the trial. 

This will significantly increase the scale of the trial and participation among higher-risk groups.

The additional investment will increase the scale and diversity of the trial, particularly among Black men who are currently underrepresented in screening evidence.

This is expected to improve the likelihood of generating conclusive evidence on effective screening approaches.

Why is this investment focused on Black men? 

Black men are at significantly higher risk of prostate cancer and are more likely to die from the disease. 

However, they have been underrepresented in research, leading to gaps in the evidence needed to inform screening decisions. 

The NSC has not recommended screening for Black men at this stage due to this uncertainty.  

Expanding TRANSFORM aims to address these evidence gaps and support future screening decisions.

What’s the difference between men who are ‘at risk’ and men who are ‘at highest risk’?

We know that prostate cancer mainly affects men aged 50+ and that their risk increases as they get older.

However, we also know there are some groups of men who are at even higher risk of getting the disease. This includes:

• Black men – whose risk is double that of other men
• men who have a family history of prostate cancer
• men with a confirmed BRCA gene variations.

What does this mean for patients now?

• TRANSFORM is already recruiting participants. 

• Patients cannot self-refer; they are invited to take part. 

• Invitations for expanded groups will be rolled out in later stages over the coming years. 

What should health professionals tell patients? 

Health professionals should: 

• Support men at higher risk, including Black men, men with a family history and men with BRCA gene variations to understand their risk and make informed decisions about PSA testing.

• Explain that research is underway to improve early detection 

• Patients interested in TRANSFORM should be advised that participation is by invitation only. 

How will this benefit all men?

Although the expansion focuses on higher-risk groups, increasing the scale and diversity of the trial is expected to: 

• Strengthen the overall evidence base 

• Improve identification of effective screening approaches 

• Support future screening decisions for all men at risk  

Last updated: 4 June 2026