56 Unprecedented public and employer demand has accompanied the latest phase of the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative, a project launched by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and Scotland rugby international Kenny Logan to improve the early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer. Running from this week until November, the second phase offers free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests to men aged 40–80. Participants also provide blood samples to support ongoing research and the validation of advanced diagnostic tests. Most of the 31 scheduled testing events were fully booked within hours of appointments opening, highlighting strong interest in accessible prostate cancer screening and research. The overall goal of the Initiative is to test 25,000 men across Scotland and explore ways to improve the existing clinical pathway for prostate cancer detection and treatment. More than 12,500 men were tested during Phase 1, which ran from late March – June. Analysis from the initial phase identified significant numbers of men with prostate cancer at different stages, along with many hundreds who had very high PSA levels. Sir Hoy praised the public response, stating: “I am delighted that so many men are demonstrating that if testing is easily available they will enthusiastically take up the opportunity. What is really important is that the Initiative has clearly been able to uncover many men without any symptoms who have various stages of prostate cancer. I am delighted that EDX Medical has been able to help men who have received a result that needs urgent medical attention. There is no doubt that when it comes to prostate cancer, early detection saves lives and this initiative is proving that.” EDX Medical Group, a leading digital diagnostics company, is delivering the testing programme in partnership with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, a prostate health awareness charity. The initiative has gained widespread support from businesses and public organisations across its two phases. During the second phase, employers hosting testing events include Royal Bank of Scotland, EDF Energy, GSK, Police Scotland, Dundee City Council, and ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne. Public events are also being held at locations including Kilmarnock and Ayr United football clubs. These follow first-phase hosts such as Sandy and James Easdale with McGill’s Buses, The Arnold Clark Group, The Malcolm Group, Lord Haughey, and City Facilities Management, as well as stadium events hosted by Inverness Caledonian Thistle and St Johnstone Football Clubs. James, co-owner of McGill’s Buses with his brother Sandy, highlighted the practical impact of the initiative on staff: “We are delighted to be supporting this excellent initiative, and it’s very reassuring to see some of our employees, along with those working for other major employers, who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer now being treated and looked after well.” Addressing the broader diagnostic impact, Professor Sir Chris Evans, founder of EDX Medical, explained: “This is proving to be a hugely valuable project on many levels. First and foremost, as the main delivery partner of the project, we have already confirmed prostate cancer from stage 1–4 in men who displayed no symptoms whatsoever. These men have clearly benefited from our PSA testing and would not otherwise have had easy access to a PSA test.” “Clearly, PSA testing has a useful role in finding prostate cancer and provides valuable data, but we are also deploying other more advanced tests. Overall, this approach has greatly enhanced our research into finding more effective ways of diagnosing and treating prostate cancer early.” “We can see that men who have traditionally feared a physical examination for prostate cancer are coming forward in droves for a simple blood test, showing that there is a real appetite for simpler and more accessible testing. We have been particularly delighted by the response from major employers, who clearly see the benefits of health testing in the workplace for both them and their employees.” Final project results will be published once data analysis is completed following Phase 2 testing. EDX Medical will share its findings directly with NHS Scotland to help inform and refine national diagnostic pathways.