Project grants provide support for a defined piece of work with objectives that can be achieved in the time specified. Applications are judged on the basis of scientific excellence, innovation, relevance to cancer research and potential impact on policy and practice.
Research Areas
The Population Research Committee considers applications in the following areas:
- Clinical and public health epidemiology (excluding primary and secondary prevention studies involving medical interventions, e.g. vaccines and chemoprevention).
- Educational and behavioural research in areas of prevention, screening and early diagnosis.
The Committee will also consider applications for funding for the following:
- Proposals considering clinical trials methodologies or statistics and proposals considering secondary effects of treatment.
Applications are judged on the basis of scientific excellence, innovation and relevance to cancer research.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from scientists, clinicians or health care workers in UK universities, medical schools, hospitals and some research institutions. In addition, all applicants for project grants must have at least 3 years postdoctoral experience or equivalent, or a tenured post.
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 PRC 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.
Funding 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 Hannah Whiteman to discuss this.
How to apply
All PRC Project Grant applications must be made online. Please see the Application Management System (AMS) section for more details.
Submission deadlines
Forthcoming deadlines for applications are as follows:
| Submission Deadline |
Meeting In |
| Friday 10 July 2009 |
November 2009 |
| Friday 4 December 2009 |
April 2010 |
Additional Information
Review Committee: Population Research Committee.
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.
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.
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 (e.g. Primary Care) 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, tel: 020 7061 8582).
Applicants are advised that abstracts of all applications to the Population Research 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 Research 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.
Contact Details
For enquiries about this scheme, please contact:
Dr Hannah Whiteman
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7438 5442
Email: prc@cancer.org.uk
