Our cancer studies started in 1996 with the ABC (Anglian Breast Cancer) Study. In 1999 we started recruiting patients with ovarian cancer. The study was then extended to include colorectal and uterine cancers in 2000. The whole project was renamed SEARCH in 2002. In 2005, the study was extended to prostate cancers and melanoma. During 2003-2009 we also recruited healthy control participants, i.e. people with no history of cancer to be used as comparisons with the cancer patients.
The studies are funded by a grant from Cancer Research UK and have been approved by the National Research Ethics Committee (NREC) East of England – Cambridge South.
With your help we have collected valuable data, which has contributed to world class research and international collaborations.