UnityBC

Overview

UnityBC (understanding inequities in breast cancer) is a prospective observational study funded by Cancer Research UK, and is wholly aligned to the National Cancer Plan priorities of equitable cancer care and community-based research.

The overarching aim is to establish a large, diverse, contemporary cohort of women with breast cancer from across the UK that an be used as a research resource.

By bringing together information on participants' health, lifestyle and experiences, diagnosis and treatment, we aim to better understand why breast cancer outcomes differ between women from different ethnic backgrounds and generate the evidence needed to help address observed differences. 

UnityBC is open nationally, with a focus on enhancing recruitment in ethnically diverse regions. The first 12 months of UnityBC are a pilot phase to test and refine our recruitment strategy. UnityBC is registered with ISCRTN and is included in the NIHR Be Part of Research portfolio.

UnityBC is using a self -referral model. Eligible women join through the study website and complete a secure online questionnaire which takes ~30 minutes. Translated study materials are available on request.
 
Awareness of UnityBC is being raised through social media, third sector and community organisations, cancer alliances, and primary and secondary care settings. 

How healthcare professionals can support UnityBC. 
UnityBC has deliberately been designed to be low burden for healthcare services and does not require physical recruitment sites or Participant Identification Centres (PICs). 

We are asking healthcare professionals to register as a UnityBC Clinical Champion and:

• •Advertise UnityBC in healthcare setting using approved study posters after obtaining local approvals where required.
• Raise awareness among colleagues and through professional networks.
• Follow and support UnityBC on social media to help extend the reach of the study.
• Join the wider UnityBC research community and receive updates on the study's progress and findings.

Healthcare professionals can register as a UnityBC Clinical Champion here.

Following registration, Champions receive an email with a link to download a study site pack.

Objectives

Primary aim is to:

• Assess the feasibility of establishing a diverse national cohort of women with breast cancer through online participation that can be used as a research resource. 

Secondary / exploratory aims are to assess the:

• Feasibility of conducting a nested case-case study to examine the causes of tumour heterogeneity by ethnicity after accounting for differences in known risk factors.
• Acceptability to women from different ethnic groups to participate and provide consent for onward data sharing, data linkage to central NHS medical records and re-contact for future studies.

Inclusion/ exclusion criteria

Eligible participants are women from all backgrounds, including White backgrounds, who:

• Are aged 18 years or older
• Have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the past 13 months
• Live in the UK

Exclusion criteria

Men are not eligible to take part in UnityBC.

Planned sample size 

We are aiming to recruit ~1000 participants during the 12-month pilot phase.

Total number of sites planned

UnityBC does not have conventional physical recruitment sites or PICs. NHS Trusts across the UK can support by advertising the study by registering as a UnityBC Clinical Champion. There is no limit to the number of organisations that can participate.  Local approval may be required before displaying study advertising materials in clinical areas.

Timeline

UnityBC opened to participation in August 2026.  The first 12 months are a pilot phase to test and refine the recruitment strategy.