Obesity-related Cancer Epidemiology Programme

The vision of our new Obesity-related Cancer Epidemiology Programme, beginning in February 2026, is to halt the rising trend of obesity-related cancers. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the programme will investigate: 1) why obesity causes cancer; 2) who would most benefit from risk-reducing measures; and 3) what the most effective measures are. 

Obesity increases the risk of at least 13 different cancers. It is the second most common cancer risk-factor in high-income countries and will soon cause more cancer cases than smoking. Obesity rates are rising, and it affects some ethnic groups more than others, worsening ethnic differences in cancer risk. To stop the rise in obesity-related cancers and reduce inequalities in cancer-health we urgently need to better understand how best to prevent them. 

We will use our knowledge of cancer pathways, genetics and population data to identify how to prevent at-risk individuals from developing cancer. Engaging with patients and the public will ensure the research is relevant to people at risk of cancer and that the public can understand the findings.  

What we will do

The aims are addressed by three work-packages:   

  • Work-package 1: ‘Biological Mechanisms’. This work-package will investigate why obesity increases cancer rates, considering differences by ethnicity and sex. This involves bringing together genetic and biological data in population studies and using advanced statistical methods.   

  • Work-package 2: ‘Risk stratification’. This work-package will identify who is at high-risk of obesity-related cancer and would benefit most from risk-reducing measures. This involves identifying biological indicators of obesity and cancer risk, and using them to precisely predict obesity-related cancer risk. 

  • Work-package 3: ‘Targeted prevention’. This work-package will combine the results from work-packages 1 and 2 with a variety of other data sources to develop computer models that predict what interventions are likely to be most effective for preventing obesity-related cancers. These models will be based on statistical approaches that evaluate the impact of changing behaviour or taking medicines to prevent cancer. This includes assessing whether existing medicines can reduce cancer risk. 

How will the results be used 

The programme will greatly improve our understanding of how we can prevent obesity-related cancers. The short-term impact will be to inform the development of prevention trials that will test better ways to prevent obesity-related cancer, especially for those at higher risk. The long-term impact will be to help shape policy initiatives, leading to better public health and prescribing guidance for preventing obesity-related cancers. The programme will also provide vital high-quality training of future scientists to find better ways to prevent cancer.