Jul 18, 2025, 07:50

CRUK Prevention and Population Research Project Award

The Prevention and Population Research Project Award funds focused, hypothesis-driven studies—typically up to £500 000 over three years—to address key questions in cancer prevention, epidemiology, methodology, behavioural interventions, trials, and policy.

Eligibility Criteria:

Career Stage: Early-career, mid-career, or established independent researchers; clinicians; healthcare professionals; industry researchers.
Affiliation: Based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute.
Experience: Some postdoctoral experience or equivalent.

Scientific Remit (select one or more):

Epidemiology & Aetiology: Population-based classical, clinical, or molecular studies of cancer risk, incidence trends, survival drivers, and secondary treatment effects.
Methodology & Statistics: Innovative methodological or statistical research in prevention and population sciences.
Screening & Prevention Trials: Population-level screening studies or pilot/confirmatory trials of chemopreventive agents.
Risk Stratification: Identification and validation of high-risk groups for targeted prevention.
Behavioural Interventions: Development and evaluation of lifestyle or behavioural programmes addressing tobacco, alcohol, obesity, physical activity, UV exposure, etc.
Policy Research: Evidence to support CRUK prevention policies and advocacy (e.g., tobacco control).

Funding Details:

Duration: Flexible; typically up to 3 years (shorter/longer negotiable with justification).
Quantum: Flexible; typically up to £500 000 total (requests above £500 000 or >3 years require prior discussion).
Allowed Costs:
- Salaries for postdoctoral researchers and technical staff
- Running costs (consumables, data management, travel)
- Equipment (fully justified)
Exclusions: Cannot fund PI salary or named co-investigator salaries (except per CRUK investigator-salary policy).

Key Dates:

Full Submission Deadline: 19 June 2025
Committee Review: November 2025
Next Round: 4 December 2025 (review May 2026)

Application Process:

Pre-application Advice: Contact the CRUK office ≥1 month (and ≥2 weeks) before deadline for eligibility and scope guidance.
Expression of Interest (Trials Only): If proposing an interventional trial, submit the PPRC trial EoI form; outline application may be waived for small-scale/feasibility studies or non-interventional proposals.
Full Application:
- Submit via Flexi-Grant; host-institution endorsement required.
- Peer review by Expert Review Panel; opportunity to respond to comments.
- Patient & Public Involvement review.
- Final funding decision by Prevention and Population Research Committee.
Guidance Documents:
- Prevention and Population Project Award Application Guidelines (PDF)
- CRUK Grant Conditions
- CRUK Cost Guidance