Launched in 2023, the MyMelanoma study is the most ambitious melanoma research project undertaken in the UK. Led by the University of Oxford and managed through Oxford Cancer, it aims to recruit 20,000 UK melanoma patients in order to carry out the largest study of melanoma ever performed, to improve understanding of melanoma skin cancer and its treatment.
MyMelanoma has been selected as one of three cancer-focussed studies (alongside a fourth seeking to improve the care of young children needing complex surgery) to pilot the new NHS DigiTrials recruitment service, which is managed by NHS England. The service aims to identify NHS patients who might be suitable for a certain trial and contacts them to see if they would like to take part.
Commenting on the news, Professor Mark Middleton, Chief Investigator of MyMelanoma, Head of the Department of Oncology and Co-Director of Oxford Cancer, said:
“Being chosen as one of 4 studies to pilot the NHS’s DigiTrials recruitment service is an amazing opportunity for MyMelanoma and the patients with whom we work. Our partnership will let us offer patients all around the country both the chance to take part in research into melanoma, and to have a say in how that research is done. It will help make MyMelanoma the largest ever melanoma study and let us answer research questions we simply couldn’t tackle before, with the goal of providing a more individualised approach to patient care”.
Eligible people will start receiving letters and text messages from the NHS encouraging them to join MyMelanoma from this month. Vin Diwakar, National Director of Transformation at NHS England, said of the initiative:
“We’re pleased to be able to announce our support for these new research studies, 3 of which will help detect and treat cancer earlier and another which will improve the care of young children needing complex surgery – studies which could ultimately save lives. Clinical trials and other studies can often struggle to find and recruit eligible patients – particularly those facing the greatest inequalities – so the NHS’s DigiTrials service is able to invite people who are suitable for these research studies faster, fairly and at scale.
The DigiTrials team will now start contacting people who may be eligible for the studies to see if they would like to take part, so I’d encourage anyone who receives a text message or letter from the NHS to consider signing up so that this ground-breaking research helps people like you and your communities. The trials will see the NHS working with leading academics across the country on research which could transform cancer treatment and benefit patients for decades to come”.
Baroness Merron, Health Minister responsible for research and life sciences added:
“Revolutionising cancer treatment and screening for everyone could be a lifesaver, giving people the precious time needed to catch cancer quicker, so I’d encourage everyone contacted by NHS DigiTrials to consider taking part in one of these critical studies. As part of our 10 Year Health Plan to radically reform our broken NHS, this government is committed to fighting cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment and research”.
See the full story on the nhs.uk website.
Information about taking part in clinical trials is also available on the nhs.uk website.
More details about MYMelanoma and how to join can be found on the MyMelanoma study website.