What is being done to encourage GPs to be involved in cancer prevention and research.

The Scottish PrimaryCare Research Network (SPCRN) encourages GPs to be involved in cancer preventionand research. This is funded by the Chief Scientist Office (at a cost of £207,122in 2007-08) and centrally managed by the Scottish School of Primary Care (SSPC). The SSPC is fundedby the Scottish Government Health Directorates (at a cost of £275,000 in 2007-08).It is currently appointing senior academics to run programmes of research whichinclude a collaborative programme of primary care cancer research for Scotland, one element of which will be prevention and screening.
The SPCRN has links with other primary care research networksin the UK and other countries. It builds on previouswork of the local research networks and the Scottish Practices and ProfessionalsInterested in Research (SPPIRe) based at the Scottish School of Primary Care. SPPIRe database has beenwell used in the past by researchers all over the UKand beyond.
The SPCRN works withdisease specific networks, including cancer, and is open to all researchers andprimary care professionals, assisting in research studies that are relevant to primarycare. Members contact details are held in a data base of research interested professionalswho are invited to participate in research studies in the future, if appropriate.SPCRN offers practical support by carrying out activities such as suitable patientidentification, mailing of invitations to patients, etc, thus minimising the useof practice staff time and disruption to the practice.