The NCRI Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) & Germ Cell Tumours (GCT) Group has published priorities in teenage and young adult and germ cell tumour research to address challenges and improve outcomes for patients.

The group have identified the following priorities on which the group will be focussing its efforts over the next three years.

The priorities identified by the group are as follows:

TYA & GCT Group

  • Identify the barriers resulting in a lack of diversity in patient and public involvement and engagement in developing TYA and GCT clinical trials and propose solutions to improve equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Develop a platform study for newly diagnosed TYA cancer.
  • Identify the challenges faced in TYA and GCT research and propose solutions.
  • Improve early detection of cerebrovascular disease after cranial irradiation in patients under 40.
  • Improve outcomes for patients with early onset colorectal cancer.
  • Develop research questions relating to teenagers and young adults returning to education and the workplace after cancer.
  • Improve understanding of the genetics and genomics of treatment-resistant disease.
  • Identify immunology- and immunotherapy-related research questions that can be addressed using retrospective and prospective data.
  • Deliver an applied research programme on the impact of evidence-based risk-stratification on the clinical detection of late effects after TYA cancer.
  • Assess and improve end of life in teenagers and young adults with cancer.

GCT Study Group

  • Deliver an epidemiological and clinical study on GCTs in older patients.
  • Deliver the THERApy de-escalation trial for TESTicular cancer (THERATEST).
  • Deliver a multi-intervention study in seminoma.
  • Identify key questions in female germ cell cancer research and design a trial to address areas of unmet need.

NCRI TYA & GCT Group strategic priorities

“We have grown hugely as a research endeavour in the last 10 years in TYA cancer, in terms of programmatic research and collaborations. The UK germ cell research community has led in globalising clinical research in that site-specific area. We need to widen what we do, which means increasing our capacity. We need to keep young people at the heart of what we chose to research. This involves specific work, which has unique characteristics when working with TYA.”

Professor Daniel Stark, Chair of the NCRI TYA & GCT Group

To identify the key priorities in teenage and young adult and germ cell tumour research, the NCRI TYA & GCT Group held two virtual sessions, attracting over 80 participants from various sectors and disciplines, including NCRI Consumer Forum members, Early Career Researchers and Partners.

The sessions allowed for discussion on the overarching challenges, opportunities and gaps in teenage and young adult and germ cell tumour research and specific issues and areas of unmet need in the field.

Experts exchanged ideas on the priorities for future teenage and young adult and germ cell tumour research. Each session involved researchers from wide-ranging disciplines encouraging cross-cutting collaboration to meet today’s most pressing needs in teenage and young adult and germ cell tumour research.

Become Deputy Chair of the NCRI TYA & GCT Group

The NCRI TYA & GCT Group is looking to appoint a deputy chair. For more information on the role and how to apply, visit the jobs and opportunities page.

Apply to become Deputy Chair of the NCRI TYA & GCT Group

Join the NCRI TYA & GCT Network

Working groups addressing each specific strategic priority are currently being formed. These groups will be made up of the experts needed to address each priority. To ensure you are made aware of opportunities to join the working groups, join the NCRI TYA & GCT Network.

Join the NCRI TYA & GCT Network