About the PSP

Our purpose

The Mesothelioma Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) was set up to identify unanswered questions about mesothelioma treatment. Patients, their family members, and healthcare professionals were asked to complete a survey and their responses were compiled into a list of the top 10 priorities for mesothelioma research.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer. It usually occurs in the pleura, which is a thin lining in the chest. Less commonly, mesothelioma can affect a similar lining around the abdomen or heart. The main cause of mesothelioma is breathing in asbestos dust. The symptoms of mesothelioma only show up decades after being exposed to asbestos. The condition is slow to appear and then quick to progress. Mesothelioma is complicated. It is not easy to diagnose or treat.(Mesothelioma, British Lung Foundation).

Find out more about mesothelioma.

The launch meeting in December 2013 included a number of presentations that explained why this priority setting work was so important.

 

Project milestones

  • December 2013 – project launched
  • Spring 2014 – survey launched
  • End April 2014 – survey closed
  • May - June 2014 – survey responses were analysed, uncertainties were checked and verified
  • September 2014 – interim prioritisation exercise
  • November 2014 – final priority setting workshop
  • December 2014 – dissemination of top 10 priorities and development of research questions began.