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. If you wish to list your project on this page, please email info@againstbreastcancer.org.uk.

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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  NIHR Patient Engagement in Clinical Development (PECD) Service: Are you interested in helping to improve healthcare research by assisting the design of a clinical trial for advanced solid tumours?

  Institution: National Institute for Health and Care Search

  Location: UK-wide

  Dates: Deadline for applications – 20th November 2024

  The NIHR is sharing an opportunity for members of the public who have lived or caring experience of cancer to be involved in the shaping of a commercial clinical trial. This will help focus the aims of the trial on the needs of the patient, their family and their community.

  Who is the NIHR looking for?

  Adults (aged 18 or over) who:

  – Live in the UK
  – Have lived experience, as a patient or carer, of advanced (stage 3 or 4) solid tumours, including breast cancer, lung cancer, endometrial cancer, melanoma, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer.
  – Can access and use word processing software like Microsoft Word
  – Participants will be asked to read draft documents and give feedback on how clearly the information is presented.

  Involvement will take up to 2 hours and participants will be reimbursed £50

  For more information and to apply for this opportunity please click on this link: https://forms.office.com/e/76LJt1e1Mz.

  If you have any questions about the PECD Service or the planned activity, please contact the NIHR PECD Service Coordinator by emailing pecd@leeds.ac.uk.

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  Exploring the experience of people living alone as they consider treatment choices following cancer diagnosis

  Institution: Birkbeck, University of London

  Location: UK-wide

  Type of study: Virtual Interview

  Dates: Expression of Interest by 15 June

  Research has shown that marital status affects the outcomes of those diagnosed with cancer, with single individuals having less positive outcomes. It is unclear why this is the case but one possibility is that people living alone opt for different treatments to people living with others. This research project aims to examine the lived experience of people living alone as they consider treatment choices following cancer diagnosis.

  We will be interviewing participants about their experiences of being diagnosed with cancer and considering treatment choices as an individual living alone. There will be one interview which should last no more than an hour.

  To take part we are looking for individuals fitting the following criteria:

  – Age 25 to 65
  – Diagnosed and treated for Stage 1 to 3 cancer
  – In remission
  – Living alone at time of diagnosis and treatment

  As a thank you for taking part all participants will receive £30.

  If you would be willing to participate please contact Julia at: jthurs03@student.bbk.ac.uk for more information.

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  The Associations of Ethnicity and Breast Cancer

  Institution: Oxford Population Health (University of Oxford)

  Location: UK-wide

  Type of study: Patient and Public Involvement Group

  Dates: begins March/April 2024, initial deadline for applications 14th February

  The study will investigate why women of African, Caribbean, Indian and Pakistani backgrounds are less likely to get breast cancer but more likely to have more aggressive forms of the disease when they do.

  For this new research, we would like to invite 20 women with experience of breast cancer to help us shape how this new research is designed, delivered and disseminated. We are inviting 20 women aged 25 years or older living in the UK who are from African, Caribbean, Indian and Pakistani backgrounds to join our group.

  Women who are involved in this group will help us make sure that we support research that is grounded in the needs of patients and their communities. Group members will help us highlight the issues that are important to patients, carers and community members. Members will be supported right from the start and offered training if needed and compensated for their involvement.

  For more information visit the project’s website or email oxfordcancerppi@medsci.ox.ac.uk, or click below to register your interest.

  Register your interest

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  Identifying Barriers to Accessing an Online Pathway for Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer

  Institution: Brighton and Sussex Medical School (SHORE-C)

  Location: UK-wide recruitment

  Type of study: telephone interview

  Dates: date/time of participant’s choice

  Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School are looking for people with breast cancer to take part in an interview for their views about receiving genetic test information and results online. The findings will help doctors introduce this in their clinics and improve accessibility for under-served patients.

  We are looking for people with breast cancer (past/present diagnosis) who fit one or more of the following criteria: aged 70 years or over, from a non-white ethnic or socioeconomically disadvantaged background (for example, low household income, unemployed or lack of educational qualifications).

  If you are interested, please contact adminshore-c@sussex.ac.uk or 01273 873019. We offer a £25 voucher for participation.

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  Treatment for sleep problems in breast cancer survivors

  Institution: University of Strathclyde

  Location: International

  Type of study: Intervention trial

  Dates: Recruitment closes March 2024

  Sleep problems are a common issue among those diagnosed with breast cancer, and one of the most frequent side effects of hormone therapy medication, such as Tamoxifen. This study aims to investigate whether supporting breast cancer survivors to improve their sleep could help them to take their hormone therapy medication.

  We are offering online cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, which is the recommended treatment for sleep problems. We are looking to recruit people who struggle with their sleep, are prescribed hormone therapy as breast cancer treatment, and who sometimes find it difficult to take their medication as prescribed (e.g., feeling the need to take a break from their medication, or forgetting to take medication sometimes).  

  The results of this study will be used to encourage future research and support funding applications to develop more services to support breast cancer patients and survivors who struggle with poor sleep. For further information, contact the lead researcher: sommer.agnew.2019@uni.strath.ac.uk.

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  Using photo-interviewing and IPA to understand the experience of living with metastatic breast cancer in men and women

  Institution: De Montfort University Leicester

  Location: UK-wide

  Type of study: Photography / online interview

  Dates: Recruitment closes 10 July 2023

  This study aims to understand the lived experiences of both men and women living with metastatic breast cancer by using participant authored photographs combined with semi-structured interviews.

  Currently this is a highly under-researched area and therefore is important we study it to better inform healthcare and support services. Further, the experiences of Men living with metastatic breast cancer has scarcely been studied, if ever, further highlighting the importance of this inquiry.

  Understandably this can be an emotional topic, but the study aims to provide a voice for those living with metastatic breast cancer. This study is being done as part of an MSc qualification in Health Psychology

  Contact Lead Researcher

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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, Truro, Leeds, Salisbury, Southampton

  Type of study: Clinical

  Dates: July 2020 – February 2025 (recruitment ends May 2024)

  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 8 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