Cancer Research UK AI policy

For applicants

• Explicitly attribute any generative AI outputs in your application. Where practicable, name the model and software and explain how the content was generated, for example by listing the prompt.[1]
• Use caution with generative AI tools when developing your application, and stay up to date with the policies and guidance from your institution, funders and the sector.[1]
• Use generative AI responsibly to ensure the originality, validity, reliability and integrity of AI-created or AI-modified content. The application must contain accurate information and must not contain false or misleading information.[1]
• Your host institution must take responsibility, when approving submission, that the content does not breach CRUK's Research Integrity guidelines.[1]
• Breaches can lead to sanctions under CRUK's research integrity policy, including discontinuing an application.[1]

For reviewers

• Peer reviewers must not put any content from a CRUK funding application into a generative AI tool. CRUK treats this as a breach of confidentiality and research integrity.[1]
• Peer reviewers must not use generative AI to write or edit their review critiques.[1]
• Reviewers sign a revised confidentiality agreement that covers not uploading or sharing application content, original concepts or critiques into generative AI tools.[1]

Sources

1. [1]

   Use of generative AI in funding applications

   Cancer Research UK, November 26, 2025

   “Correctly and explicitly attribute outputs from generative AI tools in funding applications or research by listing the generative AI source, where practicable, naming the specific model/s used and software, and specifying how content was generated (such as listing the prompt used).”

   “We advise researchers and their teams to use caution in relation to the use of generative AI tools in developing their funding applications for our funding”

   “This includes ensuring funding applications contain accurate information and do not contain false or misleading information.”

   “When approving a funding application submission to us, host institutions must take responsibility for ensuring the funding application content is not in breach of our Research Integrity: Guidelines for Research Conduct.”

   “We retain the right to apply sanctions under our Research Integrity: Guidelines for Research Conduct policy, which may include discontinuing a funding application or funding activities”

   “sharing with a generative AI tool constitutes a breach of our peer review confidentiality and research integrity requirements”

   “Use generative AI tools in formulating or editing your peer review critiques for funding applications or reviews.”

   “Our peer reviewers are required to sign and submit a revised confidentiality agreement to confirm compliance with the confidential nature of the review process”

   “We advise researchers and their teams to use caution in relation to the use of generative AI tools in developing their funding applications for our funding, and to stay up to date with the policies and guidance from their institutions, funders and the sector.”

   “Use generative AI tools responsibly to ensure the originality, validity, reliability and integrity of outputs created or modified by generative AI tools.”

   “Our peer reviewers are required to sign and submit a revised confidentiality agreement to confirm compliance with the confidential nature of the review process, including not uploading or sharing content or original concepts from a funding application to us or peer review critique into generative AI tools.”