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Health and Community Sciences

Cancer diagnosis (DISCO)

The research team into cancer diagnostics is led by Professor Willie Hamilton and focuses on diagnostics, mainly in cancer.

The DISCO (Diagnosis of Symptomatic Cancer Optimally) team's research explores using risk as the basis for selecting patients for the investigation of possible cancer. The UK has a very disappointing record for cancer survival when compared with other European countries, so many studies are carried out in this field. Willie Hamilton leads a large programme of research in this area.

Cancer Diagnosis is deeply involved in primary care. Exeter's Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) is recognised as one of the nine-member departments of the NIHR SPCR (2021–2026).

Find out more about our research into earlier and better diagnosis of cancer.