“Preventing a cancer from ever developing is one of the greatest contributions we can make” – Raymond DuBois wins Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Prevention Research Award – Cancer Research UK

Funding structures also need to evolve. Prevention studies are often disadvantaged because they require longer timelines, larger populations, and endpoints that may take years to mature. Traditional grant cycles and review mechanisms are not always well suited for this type of work. Agencies could further expand dedicated prevention and interception initiatives with sustained, longer-duration support mechanisms that recognise the realities of prevention research. Philanthropy can also play an important catalytic role by supporting higher-risk ideas and enabling early-stage translational studies that may later compete successfully for more traditional funding.

Precision oncology has transformed treatment, but precision prevention is still emerging. Which advances do you think are most likely to make prevention more personalised?

Precision prevention is becoming possible because we are gaining the ability to identify who is at risk, why they are at risk, and which interventions are most likely to help that individual. Several advances are driving this shift.

First, genomics and polygenic risk profiling will allow us to better tailor screening and surveillance based on inherited and acquired risk rather than relying primarily on age-based recommendations. Second, technologies such as liquid biopsies, epigenetic profiling, and proteomics may enable us to detect molecular signs of carcinogenesis long before cancer becomes clinically apparent.

I also think inflammation, immune biology, metabolism, and the microbiome will become increasingly important in personalising prevention strategies. Different individuals may benefit from very different approaches – anti-inflammatory interventions, immune modulation, vaccines, metabolic therapies, or microbiome-directed strategies – depending on the biology driving their risk.

Artificial intelligence will further accelerate progress by integrating genomic, clinical, imaging, lifestyle, and environmental data into more dynamic and accurate risk models.

Ultimately, precision prevention will shift cancer prevention from a broad population-based approach to one that is far more individualised, proactive, and biologically informed.

What advice would you give to a young researcher just starting their career in cancer prevention?

My biggest advice would be to recognise that this is one of the most important and intellectually exciting frontiers in oncology. Prevention research may not always generate the same immediate visibility as therapeutics, but its potential impact on human health is enormous.

I would encourage them to think broadly and work across disciplines. The future of prevention will depend on integrating cancer biology, immunology, genomics, aging, metabolism, computational science, epidemiology, and implementation science. The investigators who can bridge these areas will be especially well positioned to make transformative contributions.

I would also encourage patience and persistence. Advances in early detection, molecular risk assessment, immune interception, and AI-driven analytics are creating extraordinary opportunities for innovation.

Most importantly, stay focused on the ultimate goal. Preventing a cancer from ever developing is one of the greatest contributions we can make for patients and society. Even small advances in prevention can save countless lives and reduce tremendous suffering over time.