CariGenetics has successfully met its recruitment target for the Caribbean Prostate Cancer Genomics Study in Saint Lucia, recruiting 154 men within a year of the project’s launch in January 2025.
The milestone marks a significant step for genomics research in the region, particularly in addressing prostate cancer, which continues to affect Caribbean men disproportionately. Recruitment reached its goal across all three participant groups, including men diagnosed with prostate cancer, first-degree relatives of individuals with the disease, and control participants with no cancer history.
While the official recruitment target has been met, CariGenetics says enrolment efforts will continue to ensure that all individuals who have already expressed interest are fully supported and brought into the study where appropriate.
The response, researchers say, reflects strong community engagement and a growing awareness of the role genetics can play in improving long-term health outcomes. Participants received free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, early screening and awareness, along with a genetic wellness test designed to help them better understand how their DNA may influence disease risk.
Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related illness and death among men of African and Caribbean ancestry. Men in the Caribbean face higher incidence rates, more aggressive forms of the disease, and poorer outcomes compared to many other populations globally. The study aims to help explain those disparities by identifying genetic risk patterns specific to Caribbean men.
Genetic analysis has been ongoing throughout the recruitment period, and participants have already begun receiving personalised wellness-related insights. The next phase of the research will focus on a comprehensive analysis of genetic, clinical and demographic data to strengthen population-level understanding of prostate cancer risk in the Caribbean.
Building on the success of the Saint Lucia cohort, CariGenetics is now preparing to expand the study to other territories, including Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, as part of a wider regional effort.
Future phases of the research will explore how the findings can inform improved prostate cancer risk prediction models, including the use of polygenic risk scores. Researchers also hope the data can support screening strategies tailored specifically to Caribbean men and, over time, contribute to the integration of genomics into regional healthcare systems.
Devy Frederick, founder of GenTech Analytica, said the response from Saint Lucian men surpassed what the research team had anticipated.
“When we first launched this study, I was genuinely concerned about whether men would be willing to participate, especially given that genomics research is still relatively new in Saint Lucia,” Frederick said. “The level of engagement we received and the willingness of men to come forward exceeded my expectations and has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this work.”
CariGenetics acknowledged the support of its partners, including GenTech Analytica, Laboratory Services & Consultations, as well as the clinicians and healthcare professionals involved. The organisation says it remains committed to ethical research, strong community engagement, and ensuring that Caribbean populations benefit directly from advances in genomic science.
