Cancer Research Horizons expands its data portfolio with bladder cancer dataset available for commercial licensing

LONDON, UK, 6 August 2026 – Cancer Research Horizons, the innovation engine of Cancer Research UK, today announced the addition of a new bladder cancer dataset to its growing portfolio of commercial and academic licensable data assets. 

Cancer Research Horizons worked closely with researchers from the Cancer Research UK-funded Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme (BCPP) at the University of Birmingham to enable access to this clinically linked multi-omics dataset generated from tumour, blood and urine samples. Containing genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data from over 900 de-identified samples as well as additional unprofiled samples, the BCPP collection represents one of the most significant bladder cancer research resources in the world. Linked clinical data includes history and response to standard of care treatments and has a minimum of 5, and up to 15 years, of follow up. Remaining treatment-naive whole blood and tumour samples are also available for new analysis and data generation through separate agreements on a project-specific basis.  

The dataset can now be commercially licensed for a range of applications including use as training data for machine learning, biomarker discovery and validation, and development of synthetic control arms for trials requiring standard of care comparisons. Alongside Cancer Research Horizons' commercial licensing activities, the University of Birmingham will continue to support academic access to the resource through established research collaborations. 

The dataset adds to Cancer Research Horizons’ growing portfolio of analytics-ready data with the potential to accelerate the development of tools, targets, and approaches that could lead to improved patient outcomes. 

Joe Day, Senior Business Development Executive for Data & AI at Cancer Research Horizons, said: “The research data generated in the Cancer Research UK-funded Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme have already led to the generation of important new biological insights into bladder cancer and the development of new tests to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. Responsibly sharing these de-identified datasets with appropriate new partners from industry will extend the Bladder Cancer Research Centre’s mission to translate biomedical science into healthcare benefits for bladder cancer patients.” 

Dr. Roland Arnold, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences Research Fellow, University of Birmingham said: “Nearly half of bladder cancer cases are preventable and more efficient therapies and personalised medicine could significantly improve survival and quality of life for patients. Access and analysis of this dataset through Cancer Research Horizon’s portfolio have the potential to help meaningfully improve patient outcomes.” 

Through longstanding relationships with the UK’s top research institutions, Cancer Research Horizons continues to add cancer datasets to its portfolio, with more to become available in the upcoming months. This announcement also follows the release of Oesophageal Cancer Clinical and Molecular Stratification (OCCAMS) study dataset earlier this year. 

For more information on how to request access to this dataset and Cancer Research Horizons’ approach to commercial data partnerships please visit Cancer Research Horizons or contact Laura Huynh. 

ENDS 

Bladder cancer is the eleventh most common cause of cancer death in the UK with only 42.3 percent of people diagnosed with bladder cancer in the UK predicted to survive 10 years or more Nearly 50 percent of bladder cancer cases are preventable and bladder cancer incidence rates have decreased by 16 percent in the UK in the last decade, but early diagnosis, more efficient therapies and personalised medicine could significantly improve survival and quality of life for patients. Learn more here. 

All data partnerships adhere to Cancer Research Horizons’ Commercial Data Partnership Guiding Principles, ensuring safe and transparent use of patient-derived data with the primary aim of positive patient impact. 

Cancer Research Horizons is the innovation engine of Cancer Research UK – the world's largest charitable funder of cancer research. It brings together world-leading minds, bold ideas and the right partners to bridge the gap between academic research and taking drugs to market. It focuses on the tougher, more profound ideas that can lead to true innovation, translating them into effective treatments and diagnostics for cancer patients.   

To date, it has played an instrumental role in forming over 95 start-ups. It has helped bring 14 cancer drugs to market, borne out of Cancer Research UK's pioneering research. Through these drugs, it has enabled in excess of 28 million courses of treatment for cancer patients across the world.   

With access to Cancer Research UK's network of 4,000 exceptional researchers, and £400m of annual research spend, it is a powerful partner in the fight to conquer cancer. By uniting its commercial partnerships and therapeutic innovation capabilities, Cancer Research Horizons is uniquely placed to support translational funding, entrepreneurial development, data licensing and collaboration, spin-out creation, and offer a full spectrum of drug discovery and clinical capabilities.  

Every penny it makes goes back into funding the next bold steps, to help bring forward the day when all cancers are conquered.  

For more information and to get in touch with the team, visit cancerresearchhorizons.com. 

The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, educators and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries. 

• England’s first civic university, the University of Birmingham is proud to be rooted in of one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the country. A member of the Russell Group and a founding member of the Universitas 21 global network of research universities, the University of Birmingham has been changing the way the world works for more than a century.
• The University of Birmingham is a founding member of Birmingham Health Partners (BHP), a strategic alliance which transcends organisational boundaries to rapidly translate healthcare research findings into new diagnostics, drugs and devices for patients. Birmingham Health Partners is a strategic alliance between nine organisations who collaborate to bring healthcare innovations through to clinical application:
• University of Birmingham
• University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
• Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Aston University
• The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
• Health Innovation West Midlands
• Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 

Press office 
Megan Prock McGrath
CTD Communications 
[email protected] 

Data team
Laura Huynh, Business Development Executive 
Cancer Research Horizons 
[email protected]