The first public prostate cancer testing sessions in Edinburgh as part of the newly launched Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative are underway this weekend (Friday, April 17 – Sunday, April 19), following overwhelming demand across Scotland.
Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, Scotland rugby international Kenny Logan, and leading business figures launched the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative earlier last month, triggering a surge in bookings nationwide.
Nearly 10,000 men have already registered for free testing sessions being delivered across Scotland, with strong interest continuing as the Initiative expands into new regions.
The first Edinburgh-based sessions are taking place from Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19, marking an important step in bringing the Initiative to communities across the east of Scotland.
High levels of demand have been seen locally with testing events fully booked, reflecting the strong public appetite for accessible prostate cancer testing. One of the first men tested on Saturday was former Scotland rugby international player, Sean Lineen.
During the Initiative, 25,000 men aged between 40 and 80 across Scotland will be offered free PSA testing and will also be invited to donate samples to support vital research into prostate cancer.
Men can book a free PSA test at www.scottishprostate.com, with further dates and locations to be announced throughout 2026. The Initiative will certainly return to the Edinburgh area as additional sessions are scheduled.
The aim of the study is to explore how the existing clinical pathway for detecting and treating prostate cancer can be improved, with findings to be shared with NHS Scotland.
Each participant is asked to provide a simple blood sample to measure Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. In addition, a range of more advanced diagnostic tests will be used across selected groups to improve understanding of genetic risk factors and other biochemical markers linked to prostate cancer.
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.
The project is supported by a wide range of organisations and employers across Scotland, alongside prominent Scottish business leaders who have backed the Initiative since its launch including Sir Tom Hunter, Sandy and James Easdale, Lord Haughey, Eddie Hawthorne of the Arnold Clark Group and Andrew Malcolm, CEO of The Malcolm Group.
Professor Sir Chris Evans, founder of EDX Medical, said: “The response to this project continues to be extremely encouraging.
“The demand we are seeing in Edinburgh reflects what we have witnessed across the country — men are keen to understand their health, and there is also a strong willingness to contribute to research that could improve outcomes for future generations.”
The Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative has already seen significant uptake during its early rollout, with thousands of men tested in initial sessions across the west of Scotland. The expansion into Edinburgh represents the next phase of a nationwide effort to make prostate cancer testing more accessible.
Further testing sessions will continue to be held across Scotland throughout 2026.
More details will be shared online www.scottishprostate.com.