Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme

Around 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, despite an estimated 40% of cancers being potentially preventable. However, the evidence base around the carcinogenic role of modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors is largely observational and subject to bias. Further, global and temporal variation in cancer incidence and mortality suggest that new risk and prognostic factors are yet to be discovered.

ICEP uses cutting-edge statistical methods and genetic data (including data on gene products such as proteins, and chemical alterations to genes such as DNA methylation) on tens to hundreds of thousands of people to provide high quality evidence on:

the causes of cancers
factors influencing cancer progression
new ways to predict who will develop or die from cancers
new ways to prevent cancer and its progression, including behavioural and therapeutic interventions

This knowledge will contribute towards new interventions to prevent, detect early and treat cancers, as well targeting prevention measures and treatments to those most at risk.

Our programme focuses on cancers that are common, present late or have poor survival rates, including bowel (colorectum), brain (glioma), breast, head and neck, kidney, lung, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

Read about some of our research highlights