HUNDREDS of people in Warrington are being thanked for their participation in the world’s largest research study of cancer detection.

More than 22,000 people were involved in the study across Cheshire and Merseyside, which were selected along with seven other regions to take part in the trial.

The trial aims to see if a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test called Galleri can help detect cancer early when used alongside population screening programmes.

It is being run by the Cancer Research UK Cancer Prevention Trials Unit at King’s College London in partnership with the NHS and healthcare company, Grail.

Mobile clinics visited locations across the area in the last three years collecting blood samples from the volunteers aged 50 to 77, and this month marked the end of the sample appointments.

“Participating in clinical research has the potential to improve the way that cancer is detected, and we are hugely grateful to people in Warrington who volunteered for this research,” said Jon Hayes, managing director of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance.

Around 140,000 took part across EnglandAround 140,000 took part across England (Image: NHS-Galleri)

Early research has already shown that an MCED test could help detect cancers that are difficult to identify, including those for which there is no national screening programme.

Around 140,000 volunteers from difference socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds were enrolled in the trial from across England.

“Volunteers have played their part, and we are grateful for their time and commitment,” said Professor Richard Neal, chief investigator for the trial.

“But the work of the researchers continues with results due to be published in 2026.

“We’ll continue to collect information from the NHS so that researchers can assess whether there are significant differences between the group of participants whose blood was screened with the Galleri test and participants whose blood was not tested."