Applications for renewed periods of triennial funding are considered by the Committee but are done so as new applications in competition with other grants. In exceptional circumstances applications for extensions to current grants will also be considered but these must be discussed with the office before submission.

Potential applicants who are unsure of the suitability of their proposal for PBSC project grant funding should contact Dr Katie Payne for guidance.

The Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee considers project grant applications twice a year.

Subjects covered
The Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee considers project grant applications in any area of population and behavioural sciences, including:

• genetic, molecular, clinical and public health epidemiology (excluding primary and secondary prevention studies involving medical interventions, e.g. vaccines and chemoprevention)
• educational, behavioural, supportive and palliative care
• psychosocial research

The Committee will also consider applications for funding for the following:

• Sample collections which are associated with a specific research proposal and not dependent on the primary outcome of a clinical trial;
• Proposals considering clinical trials methodologies or statistics.

Other points
Applicants submitting applications for clinical trials are advised to liaise with a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) when preparing their proposal, as it will strengthen their application. Information about National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)-accredited CTUs and contact details for other Trials Units in the UK can be found on the web.

In addition, a number of NCRI Clinical Studies and Clinical Studies Development Groups (CSG/CSDG) relevant to the Committee's remit (in Psychosocial Oncology, Palliative Care, Primary Care, Complementary Therapies and Teenagers and Young Adults) exist and applicants are advised to contact the Chair of the relevant Group(s), or the Chair of the appropriate site-specific NCRI CSG(s), as early as possible in the development process for their application for guidance. Further details of the various Groups' activities are available online on the NCRI Clinical Studies Group website or from the Group Senior Executive, Dr Eileen Loucaides (email: ncricsg@cancer.org.uk, tel: 020 7061 8582).

Applicants are advised that abstracts of all applications to the Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee are sent to the relevant CSGs and CSDGs in advance of a funding decision, for comment on how the proposed study or trial would fit within the Group's portfolio of research (if appropriate) and whether it complements, overlaps or conflicts with any current studies in the portfolio. If supported by the Committee, appropriate studies will be added to the NCRN portfolio, and will be expected to access National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) resources where possible and appropriate.

Finally, the Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee will only accept applications for additional arms to, or sub-studies for, existing trials, if the parent trial has been funded or endorsed by a Cancer Research UK Funding Committee or adopted by the NCRN.

Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from scientists, clinicians or health care workers in UK universities, medical schools, hospitals and some research institutions. For additional information on eligibility, please refer to the Terms and Conditions.

Individuals applying for funding from BBSRC or MRC Units please note that any application must be discussed in advance with BBSRC or MRC Head Office as well as with Cancer Research UK.

Cancer Research UK welcomes applications proposing joint support for research with other funding bodies. All such proposals must be discussed with the office before submission.

Period of funding
Funding is normally provided for up to 36 months.

In exceptional circumstances, and where justified by the research proposed, applications for project grants for more than 36 months duration may be considered. All such applications must be discussed with the office before submission.

Shorter time periods will also be considered, if this is more appropriate to the particular project, but in general, an application is strengthened by completion of a pilot study before submitting proposals. The PBS Committee also has a Small Grants Scheme to fund research of up to 18 months for feasibility/pilot studies and/or applications from junior investigators.

Value
No set value. Funding decisions are made on the basis of scientific merit. Individuals submitting applications above the level of £100,000 p.a. are advised to contact Dr Katie Payne to discuss this.

Number offered
Varies. As a guide, 14 PBS project grants were awarded in 2007.

Please note that these deadlines are final and that we cannot accept applications after these days. Applications will be processed in the order they are received up to the maximum quota for any one meeting.

If the pre-set maximum quota is reached on the deadline date the applications will be treated on a first come first served basis.

Applications received over the quota will automatically be deferred to the next meeting.

How to Apply:
All PBS Project Grant applications must be made online using the Application Management System (AMS).

If you would like to apply for programme funding for basic, translational or pre-clinical research please see the Project Grants scheme offered by the Science Funding Committee.

Cancer Research UK also provides funding for therapeutic, diagnostic and some prevention clinical trials through its Clinical Trials Awards and Advisory Committee (CTAAC) and Feasibility Study Committee (FSC). For more information on this funding scheme and the committees, see Clinical Trials Funding.

PhD studentships and a number of Fellowships in the areas of Population and Behavioural research are also available and offered by the Training and Career Development Board (TCDB). For further information on these schemes please see Personal Funding.