About the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative

A doctor examines some scansThe National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative - NAEDI - is a public sector/third sector partnership between the Department of Health, National Cancer Action Team, and Cancer Research UK. It was announced in the Cancer Reform Strategy in 2007 and is led by Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, and Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK.

NEW Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer - First Annual Report has now been published. 

The role of NAEDI is to coordinate and provide support to activities and research that promote the earlier diagnosis of cancer.

NAEDI is an England-based initiative, but much of the research and insight generated is likely to be relevant to other nations.

NAEDI works in partnerships across four broad areas of activity (work streams). Each work stream is supported by an advisory group. There is also a core NAEDI group made up of representatives from the Department of Health and Cancer Research UK which oversees all areas of NAEDI activity.

In this section you can:

  • Find out more about each of the four NAEDI work streams
  1. Achieving early presentation by public and patients
  2. Optimising clinical practice and systems
  3. Improving GP access to diagnostics
  4. Research, evaluation and monitoring