The Early Cancer Institute is proud to be part of the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED), a £50m partnership between Cancer Research UK, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, The University of Manchester, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), University College London, Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU and The University of Cambridge.
The Alliance exists to work on transformative ideas in early detection, collaborate with industry partners and accelerate patient benefit.
In February 2025 the ACED network expanded to welcome two new partners: the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the German Cancer Research Center.
These exciting partnerships accelerate research by uniting world leading centres of excellence in early detection and bringing together cutting-edge research, expertise and resources to tackle the biggest challenges at scale.
ACED research themes
ACED is uniquely positioned to make significant advances towards unmet needs in early detection by bringing together researchers, data and resources across the Member Centres to focus on several key strategic research priorities. ACED has co-developed cohesive, large-scale research programmes that take advantage of the extensive expertise across the Alliance.
These research themes have been prioritised as some of the biggest challenges in cancer early detection. All of them are very much open to your engagement and collaboration. ACED will be holding virtual and hybrid workshops for these research themes which will feed directly into future programme grant applications and development of future additional funding applications.
Cancer interception
Building on expertise in early cancer biology across Alliance Centres by exploring targets for early and pre-dancer interception as a key areas where ACED is well positioned to lead and drive novel, ground-breaking areas of investigation.
Hereditary cancer
The increased likelihood of cancer in genetically predisposed individuals is likely to provide important insights into the genetic contribution to cancer risk in those groups and potentially much wider populations.
Cancer inequalities
Closing the gap in inequalities in the provision of early detection interventions nationally, as well as a wider remit to support early detection in low-and middle-income countries will be an important strategic priority areas where ACED can make valuable advancements in the improvement of health outcomes for all.
Click here for further information on the ACED research themes.
ACED in Cambridge
Led by Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, the Cambridge ACED member centre is leveraging the success of its Early Cancer Institute to bring world-class facilities and early detection expertise to the wider Alliance. Central to this is the development of ACED Clinic Cambridge, which will provide Alliance members with the resources and infrastructure required to conduct first-in-human clinical testing of novel diagnostics and imaging devices.
PIs at Cambridge University can become a member of the ACED Cambridge Centre by contacting info@earlycancer.cam.ac.uk
ACED Members can join the ACED Online Community to connect with researchers at other Centres and be involved with ACED opportunities. To receive an invitation to join, email ACED@cancer.org.uk.
ACED Clinic Cambridge
The mission of ACED Clinic Cambridge is to provide world-leading resources for all Alliance Centres to enable first-in-human clinical trials for early cancer detection to establish feasibility, acceptability and cost effectiveness of new diagnostics and early interventions.
Read more >
ACED Funding
There are a number of different awards available through ACED. Please visit the ACED Funding page for more information.
