Research opportunities in prevention and population research
The future of cancer prevention research
Our new prevention strategy outlines how we’ll work with our research community to create a world where many more types of cancer are prevented from developing.
Research suggests that around 4 in 10 cancers could be prevented through known modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco use and obesity. But by understanding more about how cancer develops and translating this knowledge into more precise interventions, we could prevent many more cases of the disease.
We support a broad portfolio of prevention and population research aimed at understanding the epidemiology of cancer, cancer risk, incidence and survival and preventative interventions.
Our strategy for cancer prevention research
With cancer incidence increasing, prevention research is critical for saving lives and reducing pressure on global health systems. A new era of biological tools and insights has unlocked an opportunity to transform what’s possible in cancer prevention research.
To meet this challenge and make the most of this opportunity, we will build on biological insights and mechanistic understanding to inform a new wave of more precise preventive interventions that decrease cancer incidence equitably across society.
Our new prevention research strategy is a statement of intent to the global research community and will guide our planning and investments. We will focus on 5 strategic themes:
- Bringing biology to prevention
Harness fundamental biological insight to provide new targets for cancer prevention.
- Deepening our understanding of risk
Deliver a more thorough and integrated understanding of population and individual risks of developing cancer in order to develop precision prevention measures.
- Reaching further with precision prevention
Develop novel, disruptive preventive interventions, precisely targeted to risk factors and mechanistic pathways, through behavioural, pharmacological and immunological means.
- Understanding and addressing health inequities in cancer incidence
Deliver research to support a more effective and equitable public health agenda in cancer prevention.
- Building prevention research capacity and community
Attract new researchers and novel thinking across career stages and disciplines.
Funding opportunities
We fund investigator-led projects, partnership initiatives and invest in research facilities and resources. We're also committed to supporting the next generation of cancer researchers, and have a range of opportunities to help you develop your research career or apply your population research expertise to cancer for the first time.
You may also want to take a look at our discovery research funding opportunities.
Our portfolio
We fund the best research from the best researchers, across the spectrum of population research related to cancer. We focus our portfolio on research which has the potential to make a practical impact on clinical practice or public policy for patient and public benefit.
You can find out who we have recently funded, or browse the case studies below for a taste of the kinds of projects and programmes that we support.
Richard Martin: How to write an award-winning population research funding proposal
Richard Martin, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and leader of the CRUK-funded CAP trial of prostate cancer screening, talked to us about the impact of the study and the advice he’d give researchers seeking funding for population research.
Cracking aspirin's anti-cancer properties
We've launched an international collaboration to answer the final questions before aspirin could be recommended to reduce cancer risk, funded by our Catalyst Award.
The path to prevention is paved with biological insight
Our first two Biology to Prevention awardees take us through their work and explain why they think a biological approach to cancer prevention is important.
Infrastructure and resources
We recognise the crucial role that infrastructure plays in creating a dynamic and responsive research environment, and we support a variety of facilities, platforms, initiatives and resources to aid your research.
UK Prevention Research Partnership
We're part of a multi-funder £40-50m initiative to support research into prevention of non-communicable diseases including cancer. The initiative will support prevention research via UKPRP Consortium and Network awards.
UK Biobank
UK Biobank recruited 500,000 people aged between 40-69 years in 2006-2010 across the UK, and participants provided blood, urine and saliva samples, additional information and measurements, and agreed to have their health followed up over time. You can now apply to access the data collected.
Our research strategy
We invest in creative people who can deliver research of the highest quality. Our strategy shapes how we'll discover more about the mechanisms of how cancer develops and progresses to unlock new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat it.
Contact us
Do you have questions about our prevention research strategy or how it may affect your research? Reach out to our research funding team. We can help you find opportunities relevant to your research area.
Dr Anbalakan Paramasivam
Research Programme Manager
Tel: 0203 469 8824
Dr David Crosby
Head of Prevention and Early Detection Research