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

December 4, 2025 (autumn round) | June 18, 2026 (spring/summer round)

Up to £500,000 per award for up to 3 years; flexible duration and budget considered with strong justification.

Supports high-quality, hypothesis-driven research projects in cancer prevention and population health, including epidemiology, risk stratification, interventions, and policy.

--- ## Description This award supports focused, innovative research addressing key questions in cancer prevention and population health. Projects may include primary prevention studies, population-based research, epidemiology, risk stratification, prevention interventions, screening, policy-focused work, and the development or evaluation of behavioural and lifestyle interventions relevant to cancer. Methodological and statistical research related to prevention and population sciences is also eligible. The scheme encourages collaborative, multi-institutional research and welcomes applications from researchers at all career stages, provided the research aligns with Cancer Research UK's prevention research strategy and demonstrates potential for significant population impact. --- ## Due Dates - December 4, 2025: Application deadline (autumn round) - June 18, 2026: Application deadline (spring/summer round) Applications are reviewed twice per year. Some interventional trials require an initial expression of interest before a full application. --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: Up to £500,000 - Project duration: Up to 3 years (flexible; longer or higher-budget projects considered with strong justification and prior discussion) - Funding covers: Salaries for postdoctoral researchers and technical staff, running costs, and equipment up to £50,000 (contact CRUK if requesting more) - Salary for early- to mid-career researchers may be included under specific conditions (see Eligibility and Salary Guidance) --- ## Eligibility - Lead applicant must be a scientist, clinician, or healthcare worker based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute. - Some postdoctoral experience or equivalent is required. - All career stages are welcome; early-career leads are advised to include at least one established researcher as co-applicant for mentorship. - Host institution approval is required before submission. - Collaborative applications (including across institutions) are encouraged; international and commercial partners may be included as co-investigators or collaborators. - Applicants with core funding from a CRUK Institute must justify additional support and differentiate the proposed work. - Applicants may submit to multiple funders but can only accept one award for the same project. - Flexible and part-time working arrangements are supported. --- ## Application Process - **Contact CRUK** for an informal discussion at least one month before the deadline to confirm eligibility and discuss your proposal. - Obtain host institution approval before submission. - Applications are submitted via the [Flexi-Grant online system](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-grants-management-system). - For interventional trials, submit an [Expression of Interest form](https://assets.ctfassets.net/u7vsjnoopqo5/1uWd1hEdwAnAH9aReibvl9/389b980f6f507972deac40441b134572/eoi_form_-_pprc_trial_project_award_or_endorsement.docx) before a full application. - Required documents include: - Research proposal (max 2,500 words, structured as per guidelines) - Narrative CVs for lead and joint lead applicants - Skills and experience form (if requesting salary or early career) - Lay summary - Patient and public involvement (PPI) plan - Justification appendix for costs - Letters of support (for multi-institutional teams, collaborators, and early-career applicants) - Data sharing plan - Declaration of competing interests - AMRC full economic costing form - Peer review process includes expert, patient/public, and committee reviews; feedback is provided, but funding decisions are final. --- ## Additional Information - The award does not support infrastructure for clinical trials units, research on cancer relapse/recurrence prevention, or audits of clinical pathways. - Methodological, statistical, and policy-focused research in prevention and population sciences is encouraged. - Applications must demonstrate clear relevance to cancer prevention and a line-of-sight to population impact. - The five-year rolling success rate for this scheme is approximately 37%. - Reasonable adjustments for disability/accessibility are available throughout the application process. - Applications using AI/machine learning must provide detailed methodological justification and address data bias and validation. --- ## External Links - [Scheme Details & Application Guidelines](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-funding-schemes/prevention-population-research-project-award) - [Prevention Research Strategy](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/our-research-strategy/prevention-and-population-research) - [Narrative CV Guidance](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/narrative-cvs) - [Competency Framework](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) - [Flexi-Grant System](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-grants-management-system) - [Expression of Interest Form (DOCX)](https://assets.ctfassets.net/u7vsjnoopqo5/1uWd1hEdwAnAH9aReibvl9/389b980f6f507972deac40441b134572/eoi_form_-_pprc_trial_project_award_or_endorsement.docx) --- ## Contact Information | Region | Contact | Email | |-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| | London & South of England (including Ox/Cam) | Dr. Nikita Dhillon | [pprc@cancer.org.uk](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk) | | Rest of England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland | Dr. Phoebe Crawley | [pprc@cancer.org.uk](mailto:pprc@cancer.org.uk) | For general queries or support, visit [Cancer Research UK's contact page](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/contact-us). ---

Prevention and Population Project Award

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