Home News

New prostate cancer project for early detection launched

President welcomes Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and Scotland rugby international, Kenny Logan, to the College.

Published: 24 March 2026

The College today (Tuesday 24 March) welcomed Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and Scotland rugby international, Kenny Logan, at the launch of a project which aims to improve the early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer.

The event, organised by the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative, seeks to offer 25,000 men across Scotland aged between 40 and 80 free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing throughout this year. 

The aim of the study is to explore how the existing clinical pathway for detecting and treating prostate cancer can be improved. The project is supported by a range of organisations and employers across Scotland, and the findings will be made available to NHS Scotland.

Welcoming the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative to the College, Professor Hany Eteiba, President, said:

“Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting men worldwide. Across the UK and globally, thousands of families each year face the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with this diagnosis.

“Yet there is also a powerful message of hope. We are living in a time of remarkable progress in medical science. What was once a disease often discovered late can be identified earlier - when treatment is most effective and outcomes are significantly improved.

“It is crucial that we also recognise that screening and early detection raise important questions. Questions about accuracy, accessibility, patient awareness, and responsible implementation within healthcare systems.

“Our responsibility as a medical community is to ensure that innovation is evidence-based: clinically meaningful, ethically grounded, and accessible to the patients who need it most.”

“This project is a major step forward for prostate cancer testing. Not only can men benefit personally from an initial test, but they can also help shape the future of diagnosing this disease that impacts so many lives. I urge my fellow Scotsmen to go and be tested.”

Sir Chris Hoy

“Men have a history of not wanting to talk about prostate cancer and have been put off from being tested for a variety of reasons. I know from my own experience that getting tested is lifesaving and this is a great project where Scotland is showing real leadership.”

Kenny Logan

Businessman, philanthropist and College Honorary Fellow, Sir Tom Hunter, said: “This is an opportunity for Scotland to lead the UK in diagnosing, preventing and treating prostate cancer at the earliest possible stage. Let’s stop those terrible conversations families have with their sons, fathers, grandfathers and friends; ‘but I didn’t have any symptoms’.” 

Organisations supporting the project include the Scottish Police Federation, Glasgow Credit Union and Dundee City Council. Employers include Sandy and James Easdale and McGill’s Buses, The Arnold Clark Group, The Malcolm Group, Lord Haughey and City Facilities Management. Inverness Caledonian Thistle and St Johnstone Football Clubs will be hosting testing events at their stadiums. 

EDX Medical Group, a leading digital diagnostics company, is delivering the Initiative in conjunction with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, a prostate health awareness charity.

“This Initiative has tremendous potential to save lives and heralds a new era for prostate cancer diagnosis. Scotland is being truly innovative in undertaking a project like this and I’m extremely proud to be working with Sir Tom Hunter, Sir Chris Hoy, Kenny Logan and outstanding leaders from many walks of life in bringing this project to life. “The message is straightforward. If men take a test, they could be saving their own lives whilst also making a big contribution to saving more lives in the future. There is no physical examination involved which we know puts a lot of men off being tested. A simple blood sample is all there is to it.”

Professor Sir Chris Evans, OBE, founder of EDX Medical

Men can book a free PSA test from today nationwide in towns and cities from Inverness in the north to Dumfries in the south at www.scottishprostate.com.