Innovation and Research

SWAG Cancer Alliance is working in partnership with Health Innovation West of England to deliver a dynamic Cancer Innovation Programme aimed at transforming cancer care and improving outcomes for the 3.3 million people living across the region.

Our Cancer Innovation Programme is led by Programme Manager Becky Clack, who is jointly hosted by both SWAG Cancer Alliance and Health Innovation West of England.

We have an ambitious, inclusive and action-oriented transformation plan to embed innovation and integrate emerging technologies to deliver more personalised, effective and efficient services. From AI-enabled diagnostics and precision therapies to redesigned care pathways and community-led screening, our focus is on embedding innovation that improves outcomes and eliminates disparities.

Collaboration is key; by connecting the expertise of clinicians, researchers, technologists, industry partners, and, most importantly, patients, we can accelerate the translation of breakthroughs into everyday practice. This is not just about adopting new tools — it’s about cultivating a culture of continuous learning, agility, fast-tracking life and time-saving technologies and continuous improvement.

Identifying innovative approaches based on evidence of need

A core component of the programme involves developing a deeper understanding of the need for innovation across Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon, and Gloucestershire. This will be achieved by creating statements of need, utilising frameworks like the NHS approved Quality, Service Improvement, and Redesign (QSIR) framework, and actively engaging with the workforce, patients, and the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector to identify the true challenges preventing earlier and faster diagnosis.

We will focus on identifying key challenges within cancer services and co-developing solutions that address these issues, and prioritise innovations that improve early diagnosis, streamline treatment pathways, and enhance patient experiences.

Horizon canning for adoption-ready innovations

The programme will also include horizon scanning for adoption-ready innovations. This will involve actively seeking out and identifying cutting-edge solutions in research, technology, and clinical practice with the potential to address identified needs and improve cancer services.

By working in partnership with the Health Innovation Network, SWAG Cancer Alliance benefits from direct access to expertise and resources, including the Health Innovation Network’s national innovation pipeline, featuring over 1,200 proven technologies.

Real-world evaluation

A crucial aspect of the Cancer Innovation Programme is support for real-world evaluation of promising innovations. This will involve testing new technologies within clinical settings to measure their impact, assess their feasibility and scalability.

The focus on evidence-based solutions will ensure that the adoption of new innovations is grounded in tangible benefits for both patients and the workforce.

Integration of Innovation

Ultimately, the programme aims to lead to the successful adoption of new innovations by cancer services within the SWAG region. The seamless integration of innovation in clinical settings will be supported through staff training and education, effective governance and collaboration, working closely with national and regional partners, research institutions, industry leaders, and patient groups.

The programme is committed to ensuring that innovation reduces health disparities and is accessible to all patients, regardless of background or geography, aligning with the SWAG Inequalities and Engagement Strategy.

Through this collaborative effort, SWAG Cancer Alliance and Health Innovation West of England are committed to fostering a culture of innovation, improving patient outcomes, reducing health inequalities, and positioning the region at the forefront of digital and technological advancements in oncology.

Our Innovation Strategy

Recognising that cancer remains a priority for the NHS, with over 1,000 new cases diagnosed daily in the UK, this programme has developed and launched an Innovation Strategy for 2025-28.

The strategy sets out a clear vision to improve cancer clinical outcomes by driving the development, adoption, and spread of innovative solutions, ensuring earlier and faster diagnosis, enhanced treatment pathways, and better patient care.

Our Innovation Strategy

One of the key priorities from the strategy is to upskill our workforce to empower them to deliver innovation projects locally. In 2025/26 we will work with our partners already involved in SWAG funded innovation projects to develop and test an education programme with a view to rolling out further across partners in 2026/27.

It is also imperative that we bring our communities along with us and that they understand why innovation is so important for improving cancer patient outcomes. We will work with our Patient and Public Voice and our Voluntary, Charity, and Social Enterprise colleagues to design and implement communications and engagement to share with our local communities.

SWAG Innovates Together

We have launched a new collaborative innovation forum designed to connect and inspire our workforce across the SWAG region and share innovative learning and best practice in cancer care. Find out more.

Innovation Funding Call

In September 2024, SWAG Cancer Alliance, in partnership with Health Innovation West of England, launched a funding call to support the adoption and spread of innovations that improve earlier diagnosis in cancer care.

This initiative is part of our commitment to building a culture of innovation, a vital step toward achieving earlier cancer diagnosis and better outcomes for patients.

We welcomed collaborative proposals that addressed local priorities and supported the NHS Long Term Plan goal of diagnosing 75% of cancers at stages 1 and 2 by 2028.

As a result of this, we have funded seven projects.

Find out more

We have also been successful in two national Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) grants. In partnership with Lucida Medical, we will be rolling out AI-assisted prostate MRI to enhance early detection and improve diagnostic efficiency for prostate cancer. We’re also collaborating with Appt Health to boost participation in national cancer screening programmes by targeting low-uptake groups – helping ensure more people benefit from early diagnosis. Further details can be found here: SBRI Healthcare - NHS Cancer Programme awards £14.4 million to accelerate new front-line innovations that detect and diagnose cancer earlier