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

December 4, 2025 | June 18, 2026

Up to £500,000 per award for up to 3 years (up to 4 years in some cases); larger budgets/durations possible with prior approval.

Supports innovative research to improve early detection and diagnosis of cancer, including projects addressing health inequalities.

--- ## Description This award funds exceptional research projects aimed at transforming the early detection and diagnosis of cancer or pre-cancerous states. The scheme welcomes proposals across discovery, translational, and clinical research, including biomarker identification, technology development, clinical trials, health systems, behavioral interventions, and approaches to reduce health inequalities. Projects must demonstrate clear relevance to early detection or diagnosis, articulate a specific cancer-related question, and outline a pathway to clinical or population impact. Dedicated spotlight calls encourage research addressing inequalities in cancer detection and diagnosis. --- ## Due Dates - December 4, 2025: Application submission deadline (cycle opening September 8, 2025) - June 18, 2026: Application submission deadline (cycle opening March 10, 2026) Applications are considered twice a year. --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum funding: Up to £500,000 per award. - Duration: Up to 3 years (up to 4 years may be possible; contact the funder for approval). - Larger budgets or longer projects may be considered for exceptional proposals with prior discussion. - Funding can cover postdoctoral researchers, technical staff, running costs, and equipment (up to £50,000; higher requests possible with approval). - Smaller pilot applications are also welcomed and not disadvantaged for having less preliminary data. --- ## Eligibility - Open to scientists, clinicians, or healthcare workers based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute. - All career stages may apply; early career researchers are encouraged to include at least one established researcher as co-applicant for mentorship. - Applications from research teams across multiple UK institutions are encouraged; international and commercial collaborators may be included. - Applicants must be fully funded by their host institution for the award’s duration (exceptions apply for certain salary requests—see below). - Host institution approval is required before submission. - Flexible and part-time working arrangements are supported, and career breaks are taken into account during assessment. --- ## Application Process 1. **Contact the funder**: Strongly recommended to discuss eligibility and proposal at least one month before the deadline ([early.detection@cancer.org.uk](mailto:early.detection@cancer.org.uk)). 2. **Prepare application**: Submit via the Cancer Research UK Flexi-Grant system. 3. **Required documents**: - Research proposal (max 2,500 words, plus figures/tables). - Narrative CVs for lead/joint applicants. - Skills and experience form (if requesting salary or early career). - Justification appendix (costs breakdown). - Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) plan. - Letters of support (from host institution and collaborators). - Data sharing plan. - Declaration of competing interests and other required forms. 4. **Review process**: - Peer review by expert and patient/public panels. - Opportunity to respond to reviewer comments. - Final decision by the Early Detection and Diagnosis Research Committee. 5. **Feedback**: Provided to applicants; funding decisions are final. --- ## Additional Information - **Salary requests**: One early- or mid-career researcher per award may request salary support if justified as a significant career transition; must contact the funder before applying. - **Remit**: Projects must focus on early detection/diagnosis; late-stage/metastasis-focused research is not eligible (except for early detection of recurrence). - **Spotlight call**: Additional emphasis on projects addressing inequalities in cancer detection and diagnosis. - **Ethical approval**: Required for studies involving patients, tissues, or data. - **Data sharing**: Applicants must provide a plan aligning with FAIR data principles. - **Accessibility**: Reasonable adjustments and support available for applicants with disabilities or health conditions. - **Use of AI**: Declare any use of generative AI in application preparation and comply with funder’s policy. - **Conflicts of interest**: Must be declared and managed per funder policy. --- ## External Links - [Full scheme details and application portal](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-funding-schemes/early-detection-diagnosis-project-award) - [Competency framework for applicants](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/develop-your-research-career/competency-framework) - [Costs guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/costs-guidance-grants) - [Salary guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/salary-guidance-grants) - [Justification appendix guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/justification-appendix) - [Narrative CV guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/narrative-cvs) - [Disability and accessibility support](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/disability-accessibility-support-researchers) - [Conflict of interest policy](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/commercial-conflicts-interest-policy-researchers) - [Generative AI policy](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/generative-ai-policy-for-funding-applications) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |---------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | General eligibility, scheme queries, application support | [early.detection@cancer.org.uk](mailto:early.detection@cancer.org.uk) | | Grants Helpline (policies, accessibility, admin) | [grants.helpline@cancer.org.uk](mailto:grants.helpline@cancer.org.uk) | | Cancer Research UK main line | 020 7242 0200 | | Cancer Research UK contact page | [Contact page](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/contact-us) | ---

Early Detection and Diagnosis Project Award

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