As reported by the BBC, the government is broadening a major prostate cancer research programme in a move that will see tens of thousands of additional black men offered checks as scientists search for more reliable ways to detect the disease
An extra £18m has been allocated to the Transform Trial, which is testing whether newer screening methods can improve on existing approaches and identify cancers earlier.
As part of the expansion, black men aged between 45 and 74 who have not recently taken a PSA test will be invited to join the study, reflecting their higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
Rather than relying solely on PSA blood tests, researchers are investigating whether combining them with techniques such as genetic testing and quicker MRI scans can produce more accurate results.
Cancer charities and campaign groups welcomed the announcement, describing it as a landmark development in efforts to improve outcomes for men most at risk of the disease.
The funding comes despite ministers backing recent advice from the UK National Screening Committee not to introduce routine prostate cancer screening for the wider population.
The committee concluded that PSA testing can sometimes lead to unnecessary treatment and anxiety, meaning the overall benefits of universal screening do not currently outweigh the drawbacks, except for a relatively small group of men with specific inherited risk factors.
Officials say the findings from the trial will help shape future decisions on whether a more targeted and effective screening programme can be introduced.
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