[Cancer Research UK](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org)

December 4, 2025 | June 18, 2026

£100k–£600k total for up to 5 years (UK costs); ACS/CCS co-funding available for US/Canada partners; pilot projects ~£100k/1 year

Supports translational research leveraging biological insights to develop innovative strategies for the primary prevention of cancer.

Pre-application contact with CRUK is mandatory; only UK-based institutions may apply as lead.

--- ## Description This award funds hypothesis-driven, translational research that advances understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying cancer aetiology, genesis, and risk, with the goal of enabling precision prevention interventions. Projects may range from exploratory pilot studies to robust, multi-year research, and are expected to articulate a clear trajectory toward reducing cancer risk or incidence. Interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged, including partnerships with experts in biology, genetics, immunology, and drug development. Joint applications from UK-based teams collaborating with US or Canadian researchers are supported through partnerships with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). The scheme is designed to foster innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches and support both early-career and established investigators. --- ## Due Dates - December 4, 2025: Full application deadline (Autumn round; applications opened September 8, 2025) - June 18, 2026: Full application deadline (Spring round; applications opened March 10, 2026) Applications are reviewed twice a year. --- ## Funding Amount - Typical award: £100,000–£600,000 total for up to 5 years (UK costs) - Pilot, high-risk projects: ~£100,000 for 1 year - Longer-term projects: up to £600,000 over 3–5 years - Equipment requests up to £50,000 allowed - Joint applications with US or Canadian partners: - UK costs (up to £600k) covered by CRUK - US costs (up to $946k) covered by ACS - Canada costs (up to C$1M) covered by CCS - Funding is flexible based on scientific need and preliminary data --- ## Eligibility - **Lead applicant must be based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute** - Must have postdoctoral experience or equivalent - Open to all career stages; early-career researchers are encouraged to apply (with mentorship from established researchers) - Teams may include joint lead applicants, co-investigators, and collaborators from UK or international/commercial organizations - US or Canadian researchers may participate as joint lead applicants via ACS/CCS partnership (UK institution must lead) - Host institution approval required prior to submission - Applications must align with the scheme's focus on primary cancer prevention, not progression, treatment, or recurrence --- ## Application Process 1. **Pre-application discussion required:** Contact CRUK at least one month before the deadline ([pprc@cancer.org.uk](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk)) 2. Confirm eligibility and receive access to the application portal (Flexi-Grant) 3. Submit full application via Flexi-Grant - Include research proposal (max 2,500 words), lay summary, justification appendix, letters of support, and required supplementary information - For ACS/CCS partnerships: include completed ACS/CCS costing template and declaration of support 4. Applications are peer reviewed by scientific and public panels, with opportunity to respond to reviewer comments 5. Final funding decisions are made by the Prevention and Population Research Committee (PPRC) **Required documents and components:** - Research proposal and abstract - Lay summary (plain English) - Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) plan or justification - Justification appendix (costs, statistical plan, etc.) - Data sharing plan - Narrative CVs for lead/joint applicants - Letters of support (as appropriate) - Declaration of competing interests and other funding --- ## Additional Information - Funding covers direct research costs, staff, and limited equipment; see [costs guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/costs-guidance-grants) - Only one lead/joint lead applicant may request their salary (early/mid-career only, with justification) - Flexible and part-time working arrangements are supported - Applications lacking a clear prevention focus or mechanistic insight are not eligible - No resubmissions unless invited by the committee --- ## External Links - [Scheme details & application guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/biology-to-prevention-award) - [Cancer Research UK funding schemes](https://find.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-schemes) - [CRUK research strategy](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/our-research-strategy) - [Prevention research strategy](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/our-research-strategy/prevention-and-population-research) - [Flexi-Grant application portal](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-grants-management-system) - [ACS funding policies (PDF)](https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/extramural-grants-documents/all-grant-policies.pdf) - [CCS funding policies](https://cancer.ca/en/research/for-researchers/managing-your-grant) - [Full CRUK grant conditions](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/conditions-of-your-grant) --- ## Contact Information | Region | Research Grants Manager | Email | |--------|------------------------|-------| | London & South of England (inc. Oxford/Cambridge) | Dr Alice Burke | [pprc@cancer.org.uk](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk) | | Rest of UK (England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland) | Dr Nikita Dhillon | [pprc@cancer.org.uk](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk) | | General CRUK Support | | [supporter.services@cancer.org.uk](mailto:supporter.services@cancer.org.uk) | | ACS partnership (US applicants) | | [Eligibility@cancer.org](mailto:Eligibility@cancer.org) | | CCS partnership (Canada applicants) | | [research@cancer.ca](mailto:research@cancer.ca) | For detailed eligibility or application questions, contact the relevant manager above. For general program or policy queries, see the main [CRUK contact page](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/contact-us).

Biology to Prevention Award

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