Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad: Improving access to cancer vaccine trials
The Challenge
As cancer survival rates are improving, the NHS is exploring new innovative options of immunotherapy with the aim to reduce recurrence. NHS England has set a target to recruit 10,000 patients with different types of cancer into studies of personalised cancer vaccines by 2030; this project went live in the spring of 2024, in something known as The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP).
The CVLP is a national initiative designed to accelerate access to messenger RNA (mRNA) personalised cancer vaccine clinical trials for people who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy treatment, which are tailored to each person’s cancer and work by training the immune system to recognise, destroy and prevent the spread of cancer cells.
Through the CVLP, people with cancer who are receiving treatment in the NHS in England can be assessed to see if they might be eligible to join a cancer vaccine clinical trial, and then referred to a hospital that is running a trial.
Our Approach
The SWAG Cancer Alliance is actively participating in the CVLP, and has successfully launched the CVLP across multiple locations, including Bristol, Gloucestershire, Bath, and Somerset.
The initial study in collaboration with BioNTech SE was for colorectal cancer; recruitment commenced in April 2024 and has now reached its target with Gloucestershire having recruited the second-highest number of patients in the country to date. The team worked collaboratively to identify eligible patients who met inclusion criteria, and support individuals through the recruitment and consent process.
What does this mean
For patients: participation in CVLP offers access to innovative personalised treatments that may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. While eligibility is currently limited to advanced-stage cancers, future expansion could benefit a broader patient population. Over time, the CVLP will enable patients to access multiple trials running nationally, increasing access in an equitable way. It will also accelerate the development of cancer vaccines as a form of cancer treatment.
For the workforce: involvement in CVLP has fostered professional development and research engagement. Participation in the CVLP has generated the opportunity for the recruitment of two local Associate Principal Investigators (APIs) at Gloucestershire Hospital, supporting the growth of research expertise within the Trust. This initiative has also strengthened collaboration between clinical and research teams.
Next Steps
- Recruitment for Head and Neck and Melanoma cancer vaccine trials began in May 2025
- Explore potential for future trials of other tumour sites
- Patient outcomes from the colorectal trial will continue to be monitored and evaluated
- Eligibility criteria will aim to be expanded as evidence of efficacy grows
Further information
For more information about the project, and cancer vaccines in general, please see NHS England » NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad or contact Mr James Bristol, Genomics Lead, GHNHSFT james.bristol@nhs.net
