The UK is expanding the Transform prostate screening trial to invite Black men aged 45–74, backed by an £18m government investment aimed at improving early detection for those at higher risk. Campaigners and charities welcomed the move, but one man whose twin died said it came "three years too late." The trial will test combining PSA with genetic checks and faster MRI access while ministers maintain that routine PSA screening is not recommended for most men.
‘Three Years Too Late’ — UK Expands Prostate Screening Trial for Black Men After Twin’s Death
Dave Cossie said his own prostate cancer was discovered after his brother Pete's diagnosis [BBC]
A man whose twin brother died of prostate cancer has welcomed the UK government's decision to invite tens of thousands more Black men to join an expanded screening trial — but said the change arrived "three years too late" for his sibling.
What’s changing: Health officials will invite Black men aged 45 to 74 to take part in the Transform trial, which tests enhanced screening approaches aimed at improving early detection for those most at risk. The government has pledged £18 million to the study to boost participation and research capacity.
The Transform trial will examine whether combining the PSA blood test with additional assessments — including targeted genetic checks and faster access to MRI scans — can improve screening accuracy and reduce harms from overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Personal impact: Dave Cossie, 68, from Shrewsbury, lost his twin brother Pete in December 2025 after Pete was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer with bone metastases in 2021. Dave, who was diagnosed himself in 2023, said he felt "lucky" to have been tested after his brother’s diagnosis and believes an earlier screening programme could have found Pete’s cancer sooner.
Dave (left) and Pete Cossie raised awareness for the disease together [BBC]
The story highlights persistent inequalities: prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in UK men, with about 64,000 new cases and roughly 12,000 deaths each year. Lifetime risk is approximately 1 in 8 for men overall and rises to about 1 in 4 for Black men.
Official guidance and rationale: Ministers have backed a recent recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee that most men should not be offered routine PSA screening because, for the majority, the harms of widespread PSA testing can outweigh the benefits. The committee made an exception for a "few thousand" men who carry a high‑risk genetic variant and have a family history of cancer.
Health Secretary James Murray said the trial is "a major step forward in how we tackle prostate cancer — focusing on those most at risk, improving the treatments available, and backing the research we need to close the evidence gaps and save lives." Prostate Cancer UK described the decision as "delighted" and said the move will help the charity reach more Black men with clear, trusted information.
Cossie also noted the positive role of public figures who have spoken openly about their diagnoses — naming Chris Hoy and Nick Owen — in encouraging men to come forward for testing.
Why it matters: The Transform trial aims to strike a better balance between detecting aggressive prostate cancers early and avoiding unnecessary interventions for slow-growing tumours, while addressing a demonstrable disparity in risk for Black men.
All Black men aged 45–74 who have not recently had a PSA test will be offered the chance to participate in the trial. The results could shape future screening policy and pathways for prostate cancer in the UK.
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