Through the Primary Care Cancer Research (PRiCAN) group at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, we are reshaping how cancer is managed in primary care settings.
Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with early detection and timely diagnosis playing a critical role in improving patient outcomes.
While much research traditionally focuses on hospital-based treatments, the pivotal role of primary care is gaining recognition. Most patients begin their healthcare journey with a GP, making primary care an essential part of improving early cancer detection and diagnosis.
The goal of PRiCAN is simple: to optimise cancer detection pathways, reduce diagnostic delays, and enhance outcomes from the first point of patient contact. The group's research focuses on cancers with poor-prognoses, such as lung, pancreatic, colorectal, and ovarian cancers.
These cancers are often diagnosed late, contributing to high mortality rates. Through innovative projects, PRiCAN aims to improve referral pathways, develop risk stratification tools, and harness digital health technologies to make early detection more accessible.
One of PRiCAN’s key contributions has been involvement in EU4Health-funded programmes, which focus on new cancer screening technologies. The team is advancing cutting-edge lung cancer screening techniques, using tools such as low-dose CT scans, biomarker testing, and AI-driven algorithms to detect risk earlier.
The group is also leading the primary care project in the landmark six-year Beaumont RCSI Irish Cancer Society Lung Outreach Programme, bringing early detection and better pathways to high-risk patients in the community.
These projects highlight PRiCAN’s collaborative approach, working closely with partners at Beaumont Hospital, Centric Health, the HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and the National Screening Service.
PRiCAN Symposium 2024
Earlier this year, PRiCAN hosted its first symposium, an important event in primary care cancer research bringing together leading experts, researchers, and patient advocates to discuss the critical role that primary care plays in cancer detection and diagnosis.
The symposium featured keynote addresses from prominent figures, including Professor Brian Nicholson from the University of Oxford, Dr Heather Burns, Public Health Lead for the NCCP and Carmel Geoghegan, PRiCAN’s patient and public involvement (PPI) lead.
The symposium underlined PRiCAN’s commitment to supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and highlighted the crucial role of primary care in cancer management. The event sparked rich discussions on how primary care-based cancer research can transform patient outcomes from early detection through to survivorship.
Looking ahead to the future
The work of the PRiCAN is driven by a vision of health equity and early detection for all. Our research is not only focused on improving diagnostic pathways, but also on leveraging AI for smarter cancer risk management.
With access to a large patient cohort through the GP network of our partners, we are well-placed to integrate cutting-edge technologies into routine clinical care.
Our collaborations with EU programmes and global research networks like ACED (International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection) ensure that our work remains at the forefront of innovation in cancer detection.
The PRiCAN Symposium 2024 was a significant step in bringing primary care to the forefront of the cancer care conversation. Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of primary care cancer research, ensuring that early detection reaches the communities that need it most.
For more information, please visit the PRiCAN website. A highlight video of the PRiCAN Symposium can be watched below.