North Central London Cancer Alliance

What North Central London Cancer Alliance does

The North Central London Cancer Alliance (NCLCA) is an NHS Cancer Alliance operating under the governance of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, coordinating cancer care improvement across the five London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington. The Alliance functions as a system-level coordinator rather than a direct care provider, bringing together nine major NHS hospital trusts (UCLH, Royal Free London, Whittington Health, North Middlesex University Hospital, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital, plus Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital within Royal Free), primary care networks, NHS commissioners, and the five local authorities to improve outcomes across prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and personalised care. NCLCA delivers NHS cancer screening programmes (lung, breast, bowel, cervical), research studies (the SUMMIT lung cancer screening study with over 12,000 participants, the ALDO ovarian cancer surveillance study), and a growing portfolio of digital and clinical innovation projects.

The Alliance's product portfolio combines screening services, clinical research, digital health tools and innovation pilots. Core technology assets include the ROCA (Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm) Test deployed for BRCA1/BRCA2 carrier surveillance in partnership with GENinCode, Limbus-AI neural-network auto-contouring for radiotherapy planning, the MENO.pause clinical decision-making web app built on the Clinibee platform, the COMPASS capsule sponge screening pathway for Barrett's oesophagus delivered through community pharmacies, and a navigational robotic bronchoscopy programme achieving an 80% diagnosis success rate across 140 pilot procedures. The organization publishes multilingual patient information (Arabic, Bengali, Turkish), runs immersive VR clinician training, and operates targeted outreach for vulnerable populations including people experiencing homelessness, people with learning disabilities, and Jewish communities via the BRCA Testing Programme.

As an NHS body, NCLCA does not generate commercial revenue; all services are publicly funded and free at the point of use, with funding flowing through NHS England and the NCL Integrated Care Board. The Alliance runs with a lean staff of 21 and a broader clinical and operational leadership bench, contracting partner organizations for service delivery. Its go-to-market is institutional: pathway adoption occurs across its member trusts and primary care networks, and partnerships with technology vendors (GENinCode, Clinibee, GRAIL), academic institutions (UCL, King's College London, NIHR Biomedical Research Centres), and third-sector organizations (Macmillan Cancer Support, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, Barnet Mencap, Jnetics, Chai Cancer Care) extend its reach. NCLCA holds no equity, has no funding rounds, and is not exposed to commercial M&A dynamics — its growth is a function of commissioning allocations, innovation grant capture, and clinical adoption rates.

Name

North Central London Cancer Alliance

Legal name

North Central London Cancer Alliance

Website

https://nclcanceralliance.nhs.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NCLCA is an NHS Cancer Alliance coordinating cancer care improvement across five London boroughs (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington) via nine hospital trusts, GPs, and local authorities, delivering screening programmes, research studies, and clinical innovation projects including the ROCA ovarian cancer surveillance service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

NHS Cancer Care Coordination Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospital-Integrated Cancer Centers (Acute Oncology Programs) (HLAFAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oncology Remote Symptom Monitoring & Care Navigation (HLALAFAD), Oncology Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAH), Ambulatory Oncology Centers (Outpatient Chemo/Radiation) (HLAFABAI)

Keywords

• Cancer care coordination
• NHS oncology services
• Cancer screening programmes
• Cancer pathway improvement
• Healthcare alliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

North Central London Cancer Alliance is an NHS organisation that coordinates cancer services across five London boroughs (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington), working with nine major hospital trusts and primary care networks to deliver cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment coordination, surveillance and personalised care. It runs cancer screening programmes (lung, bowel, breast, cervical), operates specialised services such as the Ovarian Cancer Surveillance Service using the ROCA Test, pilots innovation projects (Limbus-AI, robotic bronchoscopy, COMPASS), and delivers digital tools such as the Your Cancer Pathway Support Guide and MENO.pause app.

Product overview

North Central London Cancer Alliance operates as a coordination and improvement organization rather than a single-product company. The Alliance coordinates cancer services across hospital trusts, GP practices, and local authorities in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington. Its product portfolio comprises screening programmes (lung, bowel, breast, cervical), research initiatives (SUMMIT Study, ALDO, Pan-London Cancer Research Fellowships), digital health tools (Your Cancer Pathway Support Guide, MENO.pause app), and innovation projects (Limbus-AI radiotherapy contouring, robotic bronchoscopy, COMPASS, WID-easy test, virtual reality training). The Ovarian Cancer Surveillance Service using ROCA Test represents a significant clinical service launch. Key partnerships include UCLH, GENinCode (ROCA Test), Clinibee (MENO.pause platform), and GRAIL (SUMMIT Study). The Alliance also supports workforce development through CNS Development Leads and London CNS Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ovarian Cancer Surveillance Service NHS surveillance service using the Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA) Test for women with BRCA1/2 gene alterations who wish to defer preventative surgery. Women receive four-monthly blood tests with risk calculated from CA 125 results, age, menopausal status, and genetic status. Delivered via UCLH's Familial Cancer Clinic.
• MENO.pause App A web-based clinical decision-making aid for clinicians to manage menopause symptoms, supporting patients with natural, early and cancer-related menopause. Provides evidence-based treatment recommendations drawn from national guidelines (NICE, British Menopause Society, BGCS). Built on the Clinibee platform and integrates with EMIS GP systems.
• Your Cancer Pathway Support Guide An online patient information resource supporting people through cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. Features interactive pages where notes can be saved via unique personal links. Co-developed with patients, carers and healthcare professionals, accessible online or printable.
• Cancer Screening Programmes (Bowel, Breast, Cervical, Lung) NHS cancer screening programmes covering bowel, breast, cervical and lung cancer. Includes Targeted Lung Health Checks at multiple hospital locations and initiatives to improve screening uptake among vulnerable populations (homelessness, learning disabilities, severe mental illness).
• Lung Cancer Screening / Targeted Lung Health Checks NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme for 55-74 year old current or former smokers across North Central London. Includes low-dose CT scans and follow-up assessments at multiple hospital locations.
• SUMMIT Lung Cancer Screening Study The largest lung cancer screening study in Europe, recruiting 55-77 year old current or former smokers from north central and east London. Aims to detect lung cancer early and to support development of a new blood test (via GRAIL) for multiple cancer types. Delivered with UCLH, UCL and NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre.
• ALDO Research Programme (Avoiding Late Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer) Research programme using ROCA surveillance for women with BRCA gene alterations who defer preventative surgery. The study demonstrated that monitoring provides benefits including earlier cancer detection with less extensive surgery. Findings published in 2022.
• Navigational Robotic Bronchoscopy Service Robotic bronchoscopy programme to improve early lung cancer diagnosis, particularly for patients unsuitable for traditional CT scan. Achieved 80% successful diagnosis rate in pilot programme of 140 procedures over nine months at UCLH.
• COMPASS Project (Community Pharmacy Assessment for Barrett's Oesophagus) A project using capsule sponge tests in community pharmacy settings to identify patients with Barrett's oesophagus and early-stage oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Establishes referral routes into community-based testing clinics across North Central London.
• Virtual Reality Training for Cancer Care Professionals Immersive VR training programme for cancer care professionals to practise sensitive clinical conversations such as breaking bad news and supporting distressed patients in realistic low-pressure environments. Funded by the Alliance as a two-year project.
• Learning Disability Cancer Screening Resources Cancer screening resources developed in partnership with Barnet Mencap for people with learning disabilities and their carers. Includes guidance on national screening programmes and reasonable adjustments for accessing screening services.
• Your Health First Campaign Cancer screening awareness campaign for people experiencing homelessness, covering bowel, breast and cervical screening. Includes materials in multiple languages and partnership engagement with homelessness support organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 62-day cancer waiting time standard performance is highest in England
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GENinCode PlccoreTechnology or Integration · 30 September 2025Collaboration to provide ovarian cancer surveillance testing service using the Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA) Test. NCLCA helped UCLH become the first NHS trust in England to offer this service outside a trial setting.
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Primary clinical partner for ovarian cancer surveillance service, familial cancer clinic, and innovation projects including robotic bronchoscopy, MENO.pause app, and VR training. UCLH is the first UK hospital trust to provide ROCA surveillance testing.
• UCLPartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2024Collaboration over one year to improve early cancer diagnosis, enhance patient experience, and tackle local health inequalities. Partnership brings together NCLCA's understanding of local cancer care ecosystem with UCLPartners' expertise in identifying innovative solutions. Initial work focuses on cancer types with low early diagnosis rates through innovation horizon scans and pilot programs.
• Jo's Cervical Cancer TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon's four NHS Cancer Alliances funded Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust to deliver cervical cancer prevention training for non-clinical primary care staff in the capital. Training covers cervical cancer prevention, HPV, and vaccine awareness.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of Macmillan CNS Development Leads project led by NCLCA. Project aims to address shrinking pool of experienced cancer clinical nurse specialists through senior nursing leadership posts across London's five Integrated Care Systems.
• NHS EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of Macmillan CNS Development Leads pilot project. NHS England Workforce, Education and Training developed ACCEND programme for cancer nursing workforce development.
• NIHR Royal Marsden Biomedical Research CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pan-London Cancer Research Fellowship Programme supporting cancer research across London.
• NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pan-London Cancer Research Fellowship Programme supporting cancer research across London.
• RM Partners West London Cancer AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pan-London Cancer Research Fellowship Programme along with South East London Cancer Alliance.
• South East London Cancer AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pan-London Cancer Research Fellowship Programme.
• Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital trust with nurse-led urology clinic innovation, mutual aid for endoscopy capacity, and PREPARE sessions for cancer pathway improvements.
• Whittington Health NHS TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital trust providing mutual aid for endoscopy capacity and implementing one-stop gynaecology clinic model.
• Barnet MencapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop cancer screening resources for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
• JneticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish community organization engaged in awareness campaign for Jewish BRCA Testing Programme to encourage testing among people with Jewish ancestry.
• Chai Cancer CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish community organization engaged in awareness campaign for Jewish BRCA Testing Programme.
• Heartburn Cancer UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in oesophageal cancer awareness campaign launched during Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed major research study on HPV self-sampling that informed national decision to adopt HPV self-sampling for people overdue cervical screening. NCLCA worked in partnership with NELCA to support and shape the study.
• GRAIL (US healthcare company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on SUMMIT study for early lung cancer detection. GRAIL focused on developing a new blood test for early detection of multiple cancer types.
• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) UCLH Biomedical Research CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SUMMIT study collaboration along with UCLH and UCL for lung cancer screening research.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South East London Cancer Alliance: NHS Cancer Alliance covering South East London boroughs, partnering with NCLCA on the Pan-London Cancer Research Fellowship Programme. Similar structure, mandate, and operational focus on cancer pathway improvements across London hospital trusts.
• RM Partners West London Cancer Alliance: NHS Cancer Alliance covering West London boroughs. Direct peer as both are London Cancer Alliances with overlapping operational responsibilities and joint research initiatives including the Pan-London Cancer Research Fellowship Programme.
• North East London Cancer Alliance: NHS Cancer Alliance covering North East London, collaborated with NCLCA on HPV self-sampling research that informed national cervical screening policy. Direct peer with shared NHS Cancer Alliance mandate, similar operational model, and adjacent patient populations across London.

Others

• UCLPartners: Academic health science partnership collaborating with NCLCA on innovation horizon scanning and pilot programmes to improve cancer diagnosis. Acts as innovation enabler and partnership broker bringing academic expertise to NCLCA's service delivery focus.
• GENinCode Plc: UK-listed genetics company partnering with NCLCA and UCLH to provide the ROCA Test for ovarian cancer surveillance. Acts as technology supplier for NCLCA's ovarian cancer surveillance service rather than competing service provider in cancer care coordination.

Broad incumbents

• Cancer Research UK: Largest cancer research charity in the UK with broad remit covering research, prevention, and patient support. Comparable focus on improving cancer outcomes through research and innovation, but operates as a national charity with a different funding and operational model.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Major UK cancer charity co-funding workforce development programmes with NCLCA (Macmillan CNS Development Leads). Larger organisation with overlapping mission in cancer care improvement but operating as a charity rather than NHS coordination body, with a national rather than regional scope.
• NHS England Cancer Programme: National NHS body overseeing cancer care strategy and policy across England. Broader incumbent that sets the framework within which NCLCA operates and funds Cancer Alliance activities through NHS England commissioning and policy directives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nclcancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-central-london-cancer-alliance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Central London Cancer Alliance