Take part in a research study
Research discoveries can’t happen on their own. Scientists need your valued input.
You can play a vital role in breast cancer research by volunteering to take part in a research study.
Studies can range from filling in survey questions, to large scale clinical trials that test the benefit of potential new therapies. All studies help towards developing better support and treatments for patients.
If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, you should always consult your healthcare team or GP.
Opportunities to take part in breast cancer research studies are listed below. All projects have been reviewed to ensure they have the appropriate ethical approval.
Disclaimer: Against Breast Cancer receives no financial benefit from advertising these opportunities.
Investing in education
Against Breast Cancer are committed to supporting and developing young scientists who perform innovative cancer research into increasing survival rates after diagnosis of breast cancer.
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Are thinking styles associated with physical health after a cancer diagnosis?
Sarah Beck
Institution: The University of Surrey
Location: UK-wide, Online anywhere
Type of study: Survey, Questionnaire
Dates: September 2020 – 31 May 2021
Researchers at the University of Surrey are looking for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 24 months to complete a short questionnaire exploring thinking styles and physical health after a cancer diagnosis. The findings will help researchers improve ways to support those who are recently diagnosed.
If you are interested in taking part, please fill out a short questionnaire (15-20 minutes). Follow up questionnaires will be sent out 3 and 6 months later.
Take part in surveyOr email sarah.beck@surrey.ac.uk for more information.
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Exploring the response to the COVID-19 pandemic with breast cancer participants
Institution: University of Leeds
Location: UK-wide (with particular interest in Yorkshire and Humber region)
Type of study: online interview
Dates: July 2020 – 31 March 2021
Researchers at the University of Leeds are looking for people who have received treatment for breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic to talk about their experiences. This will take the format of an online interview with the option of two follow-up interviews later on. They are interested in your thoughts about your safety and wellbeing during this time, as well as how you have found interactions with staff and treatment environments.
If you are interested in taking part, please email Darci Tillbrook at D.Tillbrook1@leeds.ac.uk for more information.
Contact research team
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CANDO-3: Body Composition and chemotherapy toxicity in women with early breast cancer
Institution: University of Southampton
Location: Oxford, Exeter, Manchester, Portsmouth, Winchester, Salisbury, Southampton
Type of Study: Clinical
Dates: July 2020 – Feb 2022
Researchers at the University of Southampton wish to investigate how different patterns of body composition affect the response to chemotherapy treatment in women with early breast cancer.Chemotherapy doses are currently calculated from a patient’s height and weight. Patients with the same height and weight can have different amounts of blood, muscle and fatty tissue which can all affect the behaviour of chemotherapy drugs. This may be important for optimising chemotherapy treatment.
Researchers wish to recruit patients from 7 participating hospital sites in the UK. In this observational cohort study they will be collecting bioelectrical impedance body composition data from women receiving routine chemotherapy before or after breast surgery. They will also collect information for each patient about the chemotherapy drugs and doses they receive and the side effects they experience. Information gained from this study will help to improve the future care of women with breast cancer.
For more information please email: cando3@soton.ac.uk
Contact research team
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The role of sleep disturbances in non-adherence to adjuvant hormone therapy in breast cancer survivors
Institution: University of Strathclyde
Location: UK-wide recruitment
Type of study: Interview
Dates : November 2020 – March 2021
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are looking for women who have been prescribed hormone therapy (e.g. Tamoxifen, Anastrozole, Exemestane or Letrozole) post-breast cancer. Participants will be asked to take part in an online interview or focus group to discuss the impact that side effects have had on how they take their medication. One of the most common side effects from hormonal therapy is sleep disturbance. We aim to explore the experience of poor sleep and its impact on adherence to hormone therapy. Information gained from this study will help to consider whether improving sleep would result in improved adherence.
If you are interested in taking part, please email: Nicola.peddie.100@strath.ac.uk.
Contact research team
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Understanding Resilience in Breast Cancer Survivors
Institution: King’s College London
Location: UK-wide recruitment
Type of study: Online assessments, questionnaires
Dates: November 2020 – 30 April 2021
Researchers at King’s College London are looking for volunteers who have finished treatment for breast cancer in the last 3 years. The FRAME (Finding Resilient Answers More Effectively) study hopes to find out if a new online treatment will help reduce worry and low mood in cancer survivors, by building new thinking habits that promote resilience.The information gained from this study should help us understand more about why some people who have been treated for cancer experience low mood or worry and how we may be able to help them overcome this.
For more information, please email the research team at frameproject@kcl.ac.uk or read the information sheet for participants here.
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Exploring Fatigue, Distress and Disability in Long-term Conditions
Institution: King’s College London
Location: UK-wide recruitment
Type of study: online questionnaire (20-30min) and a series of online tasks (40-45min)
Dates: End of March 2021
Researchers are conducting a study looking at how fatigue affects patients’ attention, concentration and ability to process information in long-term health conditions.
They are looking to recruit breast cancer patients that completed their primary treatment between three months to two years ago. Volunteers must have access to a computer with suitable internet connection. The study aims to understand the difficulties experienced further and to inform future treatments to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
To register your interest, please visit the website created for this study.
If you have any questions, please contact TAPPS-study@kcl.ac.uk.
Register interest
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Breast Cancer
Institution: Trinity College Dublin
Location: UK and Ireland
Type of study: Online 7 week programme
Dates: Oct 2020 – May 2021
Researchers at the University of Dublin are conducting a study aiming to help breast cancer survivors cope with psychological distress and manage their mood after breast cancer treatment. The study comprises a 7 week online cognitive behavioural therapy programme that is completely confidential and free of charge.
Results from the study will help determine if online intervention studies are beneficial to breast cancer patients and improve future psychological support treatments.
If you have completed your breast cancer treatment and are cancer-free, please fill out the survey or email Selin Akkol-Solakoglu with any questions.
Take part in survey
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Bone Metastasis Indicators of Outcome (BoMIO) study
Institution: The University of Edinburgh
Location: UK-wide recruitment
Type of study: Anonymous online questionnaire
Dates: February 2021 – April 2021
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh are looking for individuals or their relatives/carers, who are living with metastatic (secondary) breast cancer that has spread to the bones, to complete an online questionnaire exploring which aspects of cancer treatment they consider most important. The results will help surgeons to compare and improve metastatic cancer care in different centres across the UK.
If you would like to know more, take a look at the study information sheet or email Samantha Downie.
Find out more
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Assessing sleep disruptions, fatigue and mood disturbances in breast cancer
Institution: University of Strathclyde
Location: UK-wide recruitment
Type of study: Online questionnaire (10mins)
Dates: March 2021 – February 2022
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are looking for people who are over 18, live in the UK and have ever had a diagnosis of breast cancer. The aim of the research study is to understand to what extent sleep disruptions, fatigue and mood disturbances occur in people affected by breast cancer.
You can take part whether you have had these particular experiences or not. The findings will help to inform future interventions to improve quality of life for breast cancer patients.
For more information, email Dr. Nicola Peddie.
Take part in survey
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PRIMROSE Audit: A prospective multi-centre cohort audit/project to assess the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with CNS disease secondary to breast cancer.
Institution: University of Liverpool
Location: UK-wide
Type of Study: Observational, audit
Dates: Jan 2020 – Jul 2022
This is a prospective observational multicentre audit. Patients with histological confirmed locally advanced breast cancer and who meet the entry criteria will be entered on to REDCap (audit tool) and data will be collected for these patients. The data collected will not be identifiable to anyone outside of the usual clinical treating team and therefore is considered fully anonymous and informed consent is not required.
Primary objective
- To audit the overall survival from initial diagnosis of CNS involvement secondary to breast cancer in UK centres
Secondary objectives
- To audit the number of cases of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) involving the central nervous system presenting in UK centres per year.
- To audit the current practice in UK centres regarding the diagnosis and management of CNS disease secondary to BC in relation to national and international guidelines.
- To audit the outcomes of patients treated for CNS involvement secondary to breast cancer in UK centres.
If you are interested in this study, please contact your current care team to get in touch with NIHR North West Clinical Research Network to express the care team’s interest in participating in the PRIMROSE Study.