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Dr Yin Zhou, MBBS MRCGP MSc PhD DGM DFSRH PGCME

Yin

NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer

Email: yin.zhou@qmul.ac.uk

Profile

I am an academic GP whose research focuses on improving the accuracy, timeliness, and safety of diagnosis in primary care, with a particular emphasis on early cancer diagnosis and diagnostic quality. I lead a programme of research examining diagnostic pathways for symptomatic patients in primary care and inequalities in cancer diagnostic processes and outcomes. My work combines epidemiology, health services research, systematic reviews and mixed-methods approaches. I have expertise in using large-scale electronic health records and linked datasets.

I completed my medical degree at University College London Medical School, hold an MSc in Health, Population and Society from the London School of Economics, and a PhD in Public Health and Primary Care from the University of Cambridge. My doctoral work, funded by a Wellcome Trust Primary Care Clinician PhD Fellowship, focused on identifying missed diagnostic opportunities in bladder and kidney cancer.

Alongside research, I lead the GP Integrated Academic Training and the Specialised Foundation Programme at QMUL, and am an Editorial Board Member of BMC Primary Care. I am also a Visiting Fellow at the National University of Singapore. Clinically, I am a practising GP and GP Trainer in Cambridge.

Research

Research Interests:

My research focuses on improving diagnostic quality, safety, and equity in primary care. I am particularly interested in understanding how patients with cancer and other serious conditions present and move through healthcare systems, and how diagnostic pathways can be improved to reduce delays and missed opportunities for timely, safe and accurate diagnosis.

I currently lead research studies funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, Barts Charity, Bowel Cancer UK, and the BMA Foundation, on:

  • Improving early diagnosis of bladder and kidney cancer
  • Estimating cancer risk in symptomatic patients for various cancer sites
  • Diagnostic safety and missed diagnostic opportunities in primary care
  • Follow-up and management of abnormal test results in primary care
  • Healthcare inequalities in diagnostic pathways and outcomes
  • Use of electronic health records and linked datasets for cancer research
  • Developing and evaluating interventions to improve diagnostic processes

Publications

Please follow the through for a full list of Yin's publications.

  1. Dannhauser FC, Calanzani N, Aslam A, Chang A, Vimarkant A, Majeed M, Walter FM, Zhou Y. Cancer risk in patients with recurrent or persistent symptoms in primary care: a systematic review. The Lancet Reg Health - Eur, 2026; 65: 101638 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101638).
  2. Mahati SG, Wu J, Walter FM, Zhou Y. Defining recurrent urinary tract infections and quantifying bladder cancer risk in primary care in England: a nationwide case-control study. The Lancet Pri Care, 2026; 0(0):100103 (doi:1016/j.lanprc.2025.100103)
  3. Zhou Y, Lyratzopoulos G, Rajan P, Walter FM, Wu J. Understanding symptom contribution to sex inequality in bladder and renal cancer stage at diagnosis. BJUI Compass. 2024; 5(7):691-698.
  4. Ong A, Young D, Valderas JM, Zhou Y. Addressing cancer care gaps through improved early cancer diagnosis in Singapore: research priorities to inform clinical practice. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2024; 46:101073.
  5.  Zhou Y, Walter FM. Understanding cancer risk in lower-risk patients to improve early cancer diagnosis. Lancet Onc. 2023; 24(11): p1166-1167
  6.  Funston G, Moullet M, Mounce L, Lyratzopoulos G, Walter FM, Zhou Y. Pre-diagnostic prescription patterns in bladder and renal cancer: a longitudinal linked data study. Br J Gen Pract. 2023; 74(740):e149-e155
  7.  Zhou Y, H Singh, W Hamilton, S Archer, S Tan, J Brimicombe, G Lyratzopoulos, FM Walter. Improving the diagnostic process for patients with possible bladder and kidney cancer: a mixed-methods study to identify potential missed diagnostic opportunities. Br J Gen Pract. 2023; 73(733):e575-e585
  8. Zhou Y, Abel GA, Hamilton W, Pritchard-Jones K, Gross CP, Walter FM, Renzi C, Johnson S, McPhail S, Elliss-Brookes L, Lyratzopoulos G. Diagnosis of cancer as an emergency: a critical review of current evidence. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2017; 14(1):45-56
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