Our future leaders funding is designed to identify, recruit, retain and support the best from every background. The long-term success of early career researchers depends on them getting the right opportunities, training and mentoring to reach their potential.
We’re funding hundreds of PhD students and thousands of post-doctoral researchers. And, over five years, we supported triple the number of cancer research fellowships in the UK than all the other major funders combined.
We were one of the first UK medical research charities to be transparent about our diversity data, and now we’re acting on those findings to train a generation of researchers who are as diverse as their patients.
- Professor Julian Downward
Professor Julian Downward’s PhD discovery triggered a wave of research that ultimately led to the development of 11 cancer drugs. 30 years later he’s still funded by us and his lab is still making discoveries that are constantly evolving our understanding of cancer.
And his legacy goes beyond his own work to the scientists he’s trained, including Professor Charles Swanton, our Chief Clinician who has revolutionised our understanding of lung cancer.
- Dr Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
We’ve supported Dr Mariam Jamal-Hanjani since she took the leap into clinical research.
She’s now a world-renowned expert in cancer research – taking on challenges like cachexia, a cancer-related syndrome where people experience severe weight loss and lethargy, and leading the pioneering autopsy study PEACE, to better understand how cancer develops and spreads, why treatments stop working, and how the body reacts in the final stages of cancer.
Cancer affects everyone, but right now cancer research isn’t drawing on all the talent.
In certain areas, such as clinical science, the UK lags behind. And too often, the demands on early career scientists create systemic class, race and gender inequalities, preventing people from continuing along this path, or even finding it in the first place.
We will only change this if we step up our efforts to train, retain and champion the best talent. And we need your support to do this.
Less than 1% of UK professors are Black. Our Black Leaders in Cancer PhD scholarship is addressing the under-representation of Black researchers in the cancer research community by attracting and supporting talented Black people early in the research career pipeline.
Abena Amponsah is one of the first students enrolled on this scholarship programme. She’s hoping that her “journey throughout this PhD will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for many aspiring Black students.”
Not enough women are progressing to senior roles in academia. Our women of influence mentorship scheme links researchers with some of the UK’s leading women in business, and over 90 researchers have been empowered to progress in their careers to date.
Dr Sean Lim is one of our researchers who benefited from the scheme: “I have learnt new problem-solving skills, and in every meeting my mentor has helped me to become a stronger leader.”
Clinician scientists bridge the gap between the laboratory bench and the bedside. But the number of clinician scientists is declining in the UK as this career pathway isn’t well supported.
Our Clinical Academic Training Programme offers early career clinician scientists greater flexibility and a wider range of career pathways, while providing training of the highest quality. As Nadin Hawwash, one of our first MB-PhD students describes, “increasing the diversity of clinical training routes is vital to both make the career journey more attractive and appeal to a more diverse group of people.”
Find out more about our work
Image by David Vintiner
Rising stars rely on our support. We rely on yours.
It will help us build a broader and more diverse network of future leaders.
It will help us create the structures and programmes to help professionals through the crucial career milestones, and towards the goal of delivering lifechanging cancer research.
You could help hundreds more reach their potential.
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