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

September 11, 2025 (Outline) | January 22, 2026 (Full) | March 26, 2026 (Outline) | July 9, 2026 (Full)

Up to £2.5 million over 5 years; funds postdocs, PhD students, technical staff, and equipment (up to £50k per item).

Supports long-term, multidisciplinary research programmes with transformative potential in cancer prevention and population health.

--- ## Description This award provides substantial, long-term funding to support broad, multidisciplinary research programmes with the potential to transform primary prevention and population research in cancer. Projects must demonstrate a clear path to clinical or population-level impact and address significant cancer-related questions. The scheme encourages innovative approaches, capacity building (including PhD studentships), and collaboration across institutions, aiming to advance cancer prevention and improve population health. --- ## Due Dates - September 11, 2025: Outline application deadline - January 22, 2026: Full application deadline - March 26, 2026: Outline application deadline (next upcoming outline deadline) - July 9, 2026: Full application deadline Applications are reviewed twice per year, with a two-stage process (outline, then full application if shortlisted). --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: Up to £2.5 million per programme - Duration: Up to 5 years - Eligible costs: Postdoctoral researchers, PhD students (stipend and fees), technical staff, running costs, and equipment (up to £50,000 per item; higher requests require discussion) - Cannot be used for the applicant's own salary or collaborators' salaries; one co-investigator or senior researcher can be named as research staff See [costs guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/costs-guidance-grants) for details. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be scientists, clinicians, or healthcare workers based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institution. - Must have extensive postdoctoral experience and an internationally recognised track record. - Must hold a fully funded post at the host institution for the duration of the award. - Applications from research teams across multiple UK institutions are encouraged; international and commercial collaborators may be included. - Applicants cannot be active fellows during a Programme Award but may have previously held a Cancer Research UK fellowship. - Flexible and part-time working arrangements are supported, subject to host institution approval. - Host institution approval is required for full applications. --- ## Application Process 1. **Contact the funder**: Strongly recommended to discuss eligibility and proposal fit before applying ([email the PPRC team](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk)). 2. **Outline application**: Submit via [Flexi-Grant](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-grants-management-system). Requires a structured research proposal (max 2,500 words), narrative CVs, and basic project info. 3. **Full application**: If shortlisted, submit a full application (max 7,000 words for research proposal), including detailed team info, milestones, justification appendix, letters of support, data sharing plan, patient/public involvement plan, and cost breakdown. 4. **Review process**: Applications are peer reviewed by the Prevention and Population Research Committee, expert and public panels. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed. 5. **Institutional approval**: Required at the full application stage. 6. **Feedback**: Provided after review, but funding decisions are final. --- ## Additional Information - Research must be cancer-relevant, with clear clinical or population health impact. - Eligible research areas include epidemiology, translational research, intervention studies, risk stratification, clinical trials of preventive agents, behavioural/lifestyle interventions, screening, and policy-focused research. - Capacity building, including PhD studentships, is encouraged. - Reasonable adjustments and accessibility support are available throughout the application process ([disability/accessibility support](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance/disability-accessibility-support-researchers)). - Narrative CVs are required for lead and joint lead applicants ([guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/narrative-cvs)). - Patient and public involvement (PPI) is expected; plans must be included or justified if not applicable ([PPI toolkit](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/how-we-deliver-research/patient-and-public-involvement-in-research)). - For clinical trials, applicants should coordinate with a clinical trials unit. - The five-year rolling success rate for this scheme is approximately 60%. --- ## External Links - [Programme Award scheme page](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-funding-schemes/prevention-population-research-programme-award) - [Funding opportunities overview](https://find.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-schemes) - [Prevention and Population Research Committee](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/how-we-make-funding-decisions/prevention-and-population-research-committee) - [Prevention research strategy](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/our-research-strategy/prevention-and-population-research) - [Research policies and guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/research-policies-and-guidance) - [Apply via Flexi-Grant](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-grants-management-system) --- ## Contact Information | Region | Contact Person | Email | |------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------| | London and South of England (incl. Ox/Cam)| Dr Nikita Dhillon | [pprc@cancer.org.uk](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk) | | Rest of UK (England, Scotland, Wales, NI)| Dr Phoebe Crawley | [pprc@cancer.org.uk](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk) | For general queries: [Contact Cancer Research UK](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/contact-us) or call 020 7242 0200. ---

Prevention and Population Programme Award

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