Get involved as a researcher

Cancer Grand Challenges seeks input from the international research community and people affected by cancer to set new challenges.  

During the consultation phase, we gathered input through in-person workshops and an open call online.  

The Cancer Grand Challenges Scientific Committee, with input from the Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel, then reviewed all suggestions and gave this input to CRUK. As funding partners, CRUK and NCI made a final decision on the challenges selected. 

Once you’ve chosen the Cancer Grand Challenge you are going to tackle, there are 3 simple steps you must take to apply – read our guidelines, complete the pre-submission questionnaire to confirm eligibility, and submit an expression of interest (EOI) application. Once the pre-submission questionnaire is submitted, we will contact you to open your EOI application.

The Cancer Grand Challenges Scientific Committee review expressions of interest and shortlists teams with the greatest potential for impact.    

Shortlisted teams receive seed funding of £30k to network and develop full proposals. The committee will then interview them and make a funding recommendation to CRUK. As funding partners, CRUK and NCI will make the final funding decisions.

Cancer's toughest challenges demand the world's sharpest minds.  

Led by Nobel Prize-winner Sir Paul Nurse, the Cancer Grand Challenges Scientific Committee includes world-renowned cancer researchers, clinicians and behavioural scientists. Along with the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel, they help define the challenges, review applications, shortlist teams, and make funding recommendations to CRUK. As funding partners, CRUK and NCI make the final decisions. 

Cancer Grand Challenges knows that research intended to benefit patients is improved by involving people affected by cancer.  

To bring this perspective to Cancer Grand Challenges, a group of patient representatives take part in ongoing consultations to shape the initiative. They help set the challenges, review applications and work with funded teams to develop the patient involvement aspect of their research.