BEST4 Screening Trial
Community research sites supporting cancer trial
Bringing the BEST4 Screening trial into communities
EMS Healthcare is proud to support the BEST4 Screening trial – a major study bringing cutting-edge early cancer detection into communities across England.
Our mobile research units and clinical teams are helping deliver the capsule sponge test – a simple, nurse-led procedure that could transform how we screen for Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition linked to oesophageal cancer.
Led by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge – and backed by £6.4 million in funding from Cancer Research UK and the NIHR – the trial aims to recruit 120,000 participants over three years. It marks a critical step in reducing the need for invasive procedures and improving early diagnosis.
Client Testimonial
“Cancer Research UK is proud to be supporting this landmark clinical trial, bringing the capsule sponge test into the community and offering it to a much wider group of patients. After many decades of research, we’re on the cusp of transforming oesophageal cancer diagnosis forever.”
Michelle Mitchell OBE
Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK
Population screening study
Reducing barriers to clinical research participation
The BEST4 screening trial builds on the success of earlier studies - which showed the capsule sponge test detects 10 times more cases of Barrett’s oesophagus than endoscopy and saves £127 per procedure.
EMS Healthcare’s role is to make this vital research more inclusive - by delivering trials through mobile infrastructure that brings the study closer to where people live and work.
By supporting earlier detection, improving accessibility, and reaching underrepresented groups, we are helping shape the future of national cancer screening programmes.
