Prostate Cancer Research case study

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in England with over 64,000 new cases in the UK every year and the second most common cause of cancer death among men in the UK. In 2012 a study found the economic cost to the UK of prostate
cancer was £0.8bn.

The North West Secure Data Environment (SDE) is supporting a major new research initiative aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment and care for prostate cancer patients. In the first Multi-SDE collaboration, the North West, West Midlands, London, Wessex, North East and North Cumbria, Yorkshire and Humber and Eastern SDE are working with the charity Prostate Cancer Research.

The project will provide safe and secure access, aligned to the ONS Five Safes Framework, to deidentified, routinely collected clinical data for prostate cancer patients, alongside data the patients directly input on Patient Reported Outcome Measures – such as how they are feeling and the real-life effects of their cancer and its treatment.

Researchers hope to gain unique insights into prostate cancer by combining the two sets of data to understand more about the disease, develop new treatments and tests to improve diagnosis, monitor the safety of treatments, and plan new NHS services.

The project aims to:

• Show that multi-SDE linkage is technically possible
• Complete data mapping and asset preparation
• Test and validate approaches to data access for Multi-SDE Projects
• Prove readiness for commercial and research activity across the SNSDE Network

By the end of 2026-27 Prostate Progress will have matured into a fully operational integrated research infrastructure with clinical data being drawn from across England. Delivering tangible value to the NHS, academic and commercial partners alike.