About the TIED Initiative 

Targeted Interventions for Early Diagnosis (TIED) is a CMCA initiative that aims to identify and support ideas that lead to earlier cancer diagnosis. We’re looking to engage with system partners and help develop ideas through:

  • Funding
  • Project support
  • Connection to the wider system to successfully deliver your project

In a nutshell, TIED projects are:

  • Clinically led and evidence based
  • Projects with a start, stop, and finish
  • Designed to deliver direct patient benefit
  • Sustainable or potentially replicable in other settings 

 

Lessons learned

Following feedback from the previous year, we’ve improved our approach in several key areas: 

  • Timelines are now outlined clearly in our communications
  • Applicants are supported more in shaping their proposals
  • We’ve increased the use of internal expertise to strengthen submissions

These changes are designed to make the process more transparent, supportive, and effective.

 

The Application Process:

Step 1: Early Scoping Assessment form.

We’ve introduced an Early Scoping Assessment to reduce time spent developing applications that may not progress.

  • Applicants complete a short form, four basic questions:
    • What is your idea?
    • What data supports your idea?
    • What is the rationale for your idea?
    • What would be the outcome of your idea?
  • Reviewed and graded by our Clinical Lead
  • Helps identify alignment and suitability early in the process 

Grading outcomes:

  • GREEN: Strong likelihood of success, proceed to next step.
  • AMBER: Probable likelihood of success but may face challenges which will need to be addressed, proceed to next step after considering feedback provided.
  • RED: Unlikely to succeed, not advised to proceed to the next step.

 

Step 2: TIED Expressions of Interest form

The TIED Expression of Interest form is the same as previous years and the link will be sent out to all Amber and Green Early Scoping Assessment responses.

To support with planning and initiation of successful applications, TIED Expressions of Interest for 2025/26 will only be accepted during the application window, 2nd June to 11th July 2025.

The full application timeline is as follows:

  • Opens: 2 June 2025
  • Closes: 11 July 2025
  • Development Reviews: 7 July – 8 August 2025
  • Notifications Issued: 29 August 2025

At present, no second round is planned for 2025/26.

Live Examples

  • First TIED project trialling self-referral to secondary care clinics for symptomatic patients
  • Collaboration between several PCNs, Aintree Head & Neck Centre, and CMCA
  • Key lessons learned:
    • GP SMS communication mechanisms
    • Clarity of messaging
    • Engaging hard-to-reach patient cohorts
  • Approximately 200 patients seen during pilot
  • Not intended to become business-as-usual but may influence new Primary Care approaches 

  • Trialling iFBC testing in Primary Care across ten pilot practices in South Liverpool
  • Previous pilots identified 3-5% of non-symptomatic patients with lower GI cancer requiring secondary care
  • Partnership with ICB leads, Primary Care teams, and Liverpool Clinical Laboratories (LUHFT)
  • Pilot scheduled to go live in June 2025 

  • Focused on improving early diagnosis of lung cancer among the Knowsley population
  • Using a community-led, creative health approach involving local artists to raise awareness and encourage Lung Cancer Screening uptake
  • Expected to increase screening uptake, leading to early diagnosis and improved outcomes for at-risk populations in Knowsley
  • Project was shaped by internal expertise at the alliance, which help ensure the project had as much impact as possible 

Summary of TIED

  • Targeted: Focused on CORE20PLUS5 priority groups and late-stage tumour sites
  • Interventions: May include changes to pathways, awareness campaigns, support for existing innovations, or the rollout of previously successful projects
  • Earlier Diagnosis: Projects must aim to improve early diagnosis in tumour sites or deprived populations where earlier detection rates are low

This is a competitive process; an application is not a guarantee of success, all applications that meet the criteria will be assessed as funds are limited. 

 

Get in touch

Sign up to the mailing list here to receive guidance, funding details, and application updates. For more information about TIED opportunities, email: ccf-tr.tied@nhs.net

Click here for the Early Scoping Assessment submission form.

Thank you for your interest in the TIED initiative.

Together, we can make a difference in patient outcomes.