Through cutting-edge research and targeted health innovation, the University of Glasgow is revolutionising colorectal cancer prevention—enhancing risk prediction, reducing unnecessary procedures, and optimising NHS resources.
The Risk Stratification Tool for Colorectal Polyp Surveillance project, based at the University of Glasgow, is setting a new benchmark in bowel cancer screening and management. Focused on improving outcomes for patients at risk of colorectal cancer—the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the UK—the project is developing a sophisticated tool capable of personalising patient surveillance strategies based on individual risk.
With £3.9 million in co-investment and the creation of 14 high-skilled jobs, this initiative represents a significant advancement in both health technology and NHS service delivery.
Inspiration
The initiative addresses a critical healthcare challenge: how to manage the growing number of patients with colorectal polyps, a key risk factor for bowel cancer, without overburdening healthcare systems or compromising patient care.
The project aims to:
- Provide precise, biomarker-driven estimates of a patient’s risk of developing colorectal cancer
- Personalise surveillance and follow-up based on polyp characteristics, patient demographics, and medical history
- Optimise resource allocation within the NHS by reducing unnecessary procedures
- Improve outcomes while lowering overall system costs
This strategic, evidence-based approach is enabling clinicians to identify patients at highest risk—ensuring early intervention—while reducing strain on colonoscopy services by avoiding redundant procedures for lower-risk individuals.
Innovation and Impact
It is envisioned the Risk Stratification Tool will delivering significant healthcare and economic impacts across the UK:
- Enhanced Risk Prediction: The tool integrates novel prognostic biomarkers identified from the polyp tissue and patient data, improving predictions of future cancer risk and enabling more accurate surveillance.
- Reduction in Unnecessary Procedures: By clearly identifying low-risk patients, the tool will help clinicians avoid unnecessary colonoscopies—minimising patient discomfort and exposure to invasive procedures.
- Alleviating NHS Resources: Fewer unnecessary procedures will free up capacity in NHS endoscopy services, reducing waiting times and improving access for those in urgent need.
- Economic Efficiency: Strategic resource allocation translates to cost savings and improved value for money across cancer screening and follow-up services.
Research and Educational Excellence
The project is driving academic impact alongside clinical innovation:
- Four manuscripts have been published highlighting early findings:
- “The Inflammatory Microenvironment in Screen-Detected Premalignant Adenomatous Polyps” explores immune responses in polyp development, identifying biomarkers for risk stratification.
- “Risk Stratification for the Detection of Metachronous Polyps After Bowel Screening Polypectomy” analyses outcomes from the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme, validating the effectiveness of the risk model in real-world settings.
- “Retrospective Cohort Study: Scope for Improvement—Barriers to Post-Polypectomy Surveillance in the Integrated Technologies for Improved Polyp Surveillance Cohort” identifies barriers patients and clinicians perceive to be associated with surveillance colonoscopies.
- “SOX9 Expression in Colorectal Adenomas Improves Surveillance Colonoscopy Risk Stratification in a Bowel Screening Population” Identifies a novel biomarker to improve risk prediction.
- A new MSc programme “Cancer Pathology and Advanced Technlogies” has been developed and launched, training the next generation of healthcare and data science professionals in risk-based surveillance and AI-enabled diagnostics.
Regional and Systemic Collaboration
This initiative is embedded within the wider healthcare innovation ecosystem:
- Developed in collaboration with the NHS, health economists, data scientists, and pathologists.
- Strengthening Scotland’s position as a leader in precision medicine and AI-driven healthcare solutions.
Conclusion
The Risk Stratification Tool for Colorectal Polyp Surveillance will transform how bowel cancer surveillance program is managed in the UK. Through the integration of novel biomarkers, clinical data, and personalised medicine, this Glasgow-led project will improve patient outcomes, relieve pressure on NHS services, and demonstrate the power of data-driven healthcare.
With significant economic, academic, and healthcare impacts on the horizon, this innovation stands as a model for future health tech development—paving the way for smarter, more efficient cancer prevention strategies across the UK and beyond.