Transparency data

2022 annual call topic proposals

Published 20 May 2024

The UK NSC received a total of 29 proposals in 2022:

1. Anal cancer

UK NSC decision: commission an evidence map

It was agreed that this topic fell within the UK NSC remit and had not been considered before. The committee agreed it would benefit from further consideration and that an evidence map should be commissioned.

2. Breast screening: programme modification and targeted screening proposals

UK NSC decision: consider proposals as part of wider work on breast screening risk stratification

There were 3 submissions which were:

1. Programme modification proposal including use of risk stratification considering breast density. Submission proposed:
   • introducing risk assessment at screening appointments, including a breast density assessment
   • changing the frequency of screening, depending on breast density
   • making use of 3D mammography tomosynthesis (TM) in screening
   • mandating that a woman’s risk profile is captured in her patient record and updated at each appointment
2. Programme modification proposal to offer women with extremely dense breast tissue screening with breast magnetic resonance imaging every 2 to 4 years
3. Targeted screening proposal for screening of women assessed as moderate and high risk of breast cancer

It was agreed that these proposals fell within the UK NSC remit. The committee agreed they would benefit from further consideration and would be considered as part of wider work on breast screening risk stratification.

3. Cervical screening programme modification on technology

UK NSC decision: consider proposal as part of wider work on cervical screening

This submission by a commercial organisation proposed replacing cytology screening in HPV positive women test with a triage test that allows clinicians to determine which women who are found to be HPV-positive require further diagnostic procedures. It was agreed that this fell within the UK NSC remit and had not been considered before. The committee agreed that this topic would benefit from further consideration as part of its wider work on cervical screening.

4. Fragile X syndrome in newborns

UK NSC decision: commission an evidence map

It was agreed that this proposal fell within the UK NSC remit. The committee agreed that this topic would benefit from further consideration and that an evidence map should be commissioned.

5. Heart valve disease (HVD)

UK NSC decision: commission an evidence map

It was agreed that this fell within the UK NSC remit and had not been considered before. The committee agreed that this topic would benefit from further consideration and that an evidence map should be commissioned.

6. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 ( HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) targeted screening – 2 separate submissions

UK NSC decision: commission further work

It was agreed that these submissions fell within the UK NSC remit. Although universal screening for HTLV had been considered several times previously, targeted screening had not. The committee agreed that this topic would benefit from further consideration.

7. Lynch syndrome screening in people with colorectal cancer

UK NSC decision: commission an evidence map

It was agreed that this fell within the UK NSC remit and had not been considered before. The committee agreed that this topic would benefit from further consideration and that an evidence map should be commissioned.

8. Preterm birth early update

UK NSC decision: commission an evidence map

It was agreed that this fell within the UK NSC remit. The committee agreed that this topic would benefit from further consideration and that an evidence map should be commissioned.

9. Prostate cancer screening – 6 submissions

UK NSC decision: consider as part of wider work on prostate cancer screening risk stratification

The 6 submissions were:

1. Targeted screening proposal using prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing and high-risk factors, such as family history and ethnicity, to screen for prostate cancer
2. Proposal to offer targeted screening for carriers of the BRCA2 gene
3. Population and risk stratified proposal for a national programme based on the PSA test for all men aged 45 to 70, with frequency of testing stratified by individual risk calculated from an initial, normal PSA, age, ethnicity and family history, initially yearly for high-risk men and 3 to 5-yearly for low-risk men. Men with an abnormal PSA would be referred according to current 2-week wait and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria for mpMRI prostate scanning.
4. Proposal for targeted screening of Black men aged 45 to 70.
5. Targeted screening proposal to screen men between 50 and 69 with a Charlson co-morbidity index (less than or equal to 3) using the Stockholm3 blood test
6. Targeted screening proposal to screen men aged 45 to 70 who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate, breast or ovarian cancer (relevant family history).

It was agreed that these proposals fell within the UK NSC remit. The committee agreed they would benefit from further consideration and would be considered together as part of wider work on prostate cancer screening risk stratification.

10. Urea cycle disorder

UK NSC decision: commission an evidence map

It was agreed that this fell within the UK NSC remit and had not been considered before. The committee decided this topic would benefit from further consideration and that an evidence map should be commissioned.

11. Vasa praevia

UK NSC decision: evidence map commissioned, no further work

It was agreed that this fell within the UK NSC remit. The committee had already commissioned an evidence map to review the evidence on screening for this condition.

The UK NSC opened a public consultation on the findings of this evidence map in March 2023. The committee considered this topic at its November 2023 meeting and reiterated its recommendation not to screen for vasa praevia. The committee decided there was still insufficient evidence to support a  recommendation for nationally managed screening programme, but members were keen to encourage more research to build the evidence base on this topic. In addition, the UK NSC secretariat will meet colleagues from NICE to discuss clinical care management guidelines for vasa praevia to see if more can be done.

12. Acute myeloid leukaemia

UK NSC decision: submission declined

It was agreed that there was not enough published evidence for the UK NSC to follow up this proposal at this time. Specifically, it was felt more evidence was needed on test performance and how eligible individuals would be identified for screening.

13. Bowel cancer screening programme modification proposal: development of information leaflet on risk modifiers for condition

UK NSC decision: submission declined

It was agreed that this fell outside the UK NSC’s remit. The NHS in the 4 UK nations is responsible for the information provided to individuals when they are invited for screening. The submission was shared with NHS England to follow up.

14. Breast screening programme modification proposal: development of information leaflet on risk modifiers for condition

UK NSC decision: submission declined

It was agreed that this fell outside the UK NSC’s remit. The NHS in the 4 UK nations is responsible for the information provided to individuals when they are invited for screening. The submission was shared with NHS England to follow up.

15. Cervical screening programme modification using digital cytology

UK NSC decision: submission declined

After careful consideration, the committee decided not pursue this submission because insufficient published evidence had been supplied with the proposal. Further information was requested,

16. Chronic kidney disease

UK NSC decision: submission declined

After careful consideration, the committee agreed not to pursue this proposal as it relates to clinical management of people with pre-existing conditions .  Mechanisms to improve adherence to guidelines in such settings, while clearly important, are not within the remit of the UK NSC.

17. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)

UK NSC decision: submission declined

After careful consideration, it was agreed that this proposal fell out of scope for the UK NSC at this time and that there may need to be more primary research and long-term studies into CMV screening.

A 2021 evidence map was commissioned relating to population screening. It concluded that, although some studies identified possible markers to distinguish which congenital CMV infected newborns will suffer long-term negative outcomes, there was no consensus about their predictive value or their reliability to select a group of newborns for treatment. There was also not enough evidence on the benefits of early treatment or intervention compared to late treatment after the presentation of symptoms.

The UK NSC will continue to keep abreast with international research on this topic. 

18. Diabetic eye screening – use of optical coherence tomography (OCT)

UK NSC decision: submission declined

It was agreed that this fell outside the UK NSC remit because it relates to activity after screen positive results and fits into the routine diagnostic pathway. It should therefore be pursued via the NHS in the 4 nations.

19. Fetal anomaly screening programme modification

UK NSC decision: more information requested

This submission proposed adding a new technology for non-invasive prenatal testing that does not use sequencing or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. The UK NSC decided that it would need to do more work to determine if this proposal falls within its remit to consider as a programme modification. The committee requested further information. 

20. Multiple sclerosis

UK NSC decision: submission declined

Following discussion with colleagues at NICE, the committee suggested that the sponsor of the proposal should approach an appropriate professional organisation to discuss the proposal in more detail and to gather more evidence for a possible submission to NICE.

21. Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

UK NSC decision: submission declined

It was agreed that this fell outside of the UK NSC remit because affected individuals would already be identified and managed under existing clinical management care.

22. Wet AMD using OCT

UK NSC decision: submission declined

It was agreed that this fell outside the UK NSC remit because individuals would already be identified and under existing clinical management care.