Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer Award
Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer Award supports researchers pursuing high-risk pilot studies and collaborations to advance cancer early detection and diagnosis and lay foundations for larger projects.
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Funder: Cancer Research UK
Due Dates: September 17, 2026 (Application deadline) | March 11, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to £100,000 for up to 12 months
Summary: Supports pioneering, high-risk pilot research and collaborations advancing cancer early detection and diagnosis.
Key Information: Applicants must be based at a UK university, medical school, hospital or research institution.
Description
Cancer Research UK’s Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer Award supports highly novel research ideas and pilot studies of high scientific risk. It funds new or adapted technologies, unconventional investigations, and early detection of cancer recurrence. It can also support new collaborations or consortia, researcher development, training and lab exchanges intended to build capacity in early detection research.
Research may address markers and tests, high-risk groups, health systems and economics, data-driven approaches, preclinical models, technology development, or public and clinician behaviour. Proposals must articulate a cancer-related question and a route towards clinical or population impact. Extensive preliminary data are not required, but the work and partnerships should underpin a larger research project. A spotlight call also encourages research reducing known inequalities or investigating less-understood mechanisms driving inequalities in detection and diagnosis.
