Up to two thirds of cancer deaths may be preventable: tobacco usage, diet, exposure to sunlight, ionising radiation, exogenous hormones and viral and bacterial infections have all been implicated in cancer initiation or progression. Effective methods of early detection of cancer through screening and education therefore remain a high research priority. Many cancers are related to lifestyle, and research is also needed to clarify the best approach to modifying lifestyle and behaviour. This is particularly important for those populations at high risk and those who will have long-term exposure, for example adolescents and young adults.

Up to half of cancer patients may suffer psychological distress as a result of their diagnosis and treatment. The quality of life of cancer patients, their families and carers is therefore a priority area. Educational approaches aimed to break down the fear and ignorance surrounding cancer and to develop research-based professional training are also important.

Mission

To provide an evidence base for effective strategies aimed at reducing cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality in the UK and elsewhere, in line with Cancer Research UK's Objectives, by funding internationally competitive research in cancer prevention and control and in behavioural research relevant to cancer.

Aims

• To support the highest quality epidemiological research, to understand the determinants of cancer and to inform effective intervention strategies.
• To support the highest quality research in behavioural science, including psychosocial and educational research, to facilitate cancer awareness and lifestyle change, and to promote the psychological well-being of cancer patients, their carers and families.
• To work with implementation partners to test models of behaviour change and cancer prevention.
• To develop evidence to inform professionals, policy makers and the public about cancer prevention and control.

Research Priorities

Prevention (a)

• Tobacco control: especially the development and greater use of more effective cessation methods, and application of these to vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, adolescents etc.
• Diet, nutrition and physical activity: especially effective approaches to preventing obesity through avoiding weight gain and achieving weight loss. Also, research to identify and understand the mechanism of action of the causal factors, to understand the basis of dietary preference and development of methods of changing eating habits.
• Environmental exposures: impact on public health, and public concerns.
• Nutrition and metabolic risk factors
• Screening: especially development of novel technologies and the effective implementation of proven technologies.
• Genetic risk: exploring how preventive action can be tailored to individual genotype; the effect of genetic risk information on behaviour; the psychosocial impact of detection of increased risk.
• Hormones: understanding the mechanisms whereby hormones influence cancer risk.
• Infection and inflammatory states
• Chemoprevention: identifying surrogate markers predictive of later clinical disease
• Life-course approach to cancer risk
• Sunlight and vitamin D

Statistical and epidemiological modelling

Translational research: development of effective models of intervention for cancer prevention and psychosocial support (a).

Professional education and training (a)

Public understanding and education, especially in relation to: cancer risk and prevention and to clinical trials.

Groups facing social and health inequalities: minority ethnic groups (a); low income groups; the older person; children; survivors. Issues of inequality and cancer.

The role of primary care in cancer prevention, detection and cancer management.

Palliative care

Cancer Research UK already supports a considerable research portfolio in communication skills which remains a priority area.

(a) link to full recommendations from Cancer Research UK expert groups/consensus meetings

Guiding Principles

The Committee's remit extends from basic research through to the early developmental stages of interventions. It therefore favours pilot projects which seek to develop and test models, and innovative studies which explore the theoretical basis of, for example, behaviour change.

Aspects of the wider application of models are also important, however, such as:

• relevance to national policy or to curricular requirements
• generalisability (including technical specifications)
• dissemination strategy: for example, the likely uptake by statutory agencies.

Applications are viewed favourably in which collaborators (from the statutory, voluntary and/or private sectors) have already been identified for programme implementation. Cancer Research UK will endeavour to play a facilitating role in establishing such collaborations where appropriate.

The Committee also favours projects which:

• include user involvement
• use a multidisciplinary approach
• look for tangible outcomes
• use an evidence-based approach
• apply sound evaluation procedures

Please note, the PBS Committee will only consider funding arms or additions to clinical trials which have been agreed by (but not necessarily funded by) Clinical Trials Advisory and Awards Committee (CTAAC) of Cancer Research UK, or have been adopted by the NCRN.

Funding Mechanisms

The Committee provides two main kinds of award (in addition to training awards)

• project grants (normally for up to 3 years), which are usually proposer-initiated;
• 5 year programme grants to Directors of Cancer Research UK Research Groups

Programme grants are awarded to outstanding individuals with an established track record, from whom proposals are invited. The balance of funding is aimed to be in the region of 25:75 project: programme awards.

The Committee also undertakes or commissions: peer review, protocol development, literature reviews, strategic reviews, and reports in key areas, e.g. tobacco control, minority ethnic groups, medical education, cancer prevention.

The training programme was set up to ensure a cadre of highly trained researchers for the future in psychosocial oncology, behavioural research and cancer education, and cancer public health epidemiology. There are currently 6 types of award which are listed on the Population and Behavioural Sciences Funding page.