Our research strategy
Our vision for a better future
Over the past 120 years, our work has revolutionised what we know about cancer and how we can beat it.
Our research strategy builds on what's already been achieved and sets out how we'll work with our world-class research community towards a better future.
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We're at a turning point
Our strategy puts discovery research and excellence at the heart of what we'll do. We must understand the mechanisms of how cancer develops and progresses to unlock new ways to prevent, detect and treat it.
It's built around 4 objectives – to discover, detect, prevent, and treat – so that progress in understanding the fundamental biology of cancer leads to new prevention measures, tests and treatments.
To achieve this, we will spend £1.5bn over the next five years, investing in creative people and transformational research. We will support research to reduce cancer inequalities and improve outcomes for everyone. And we’ll involve people affected by cancer in our work.
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Opportunities for researchers
Discovery
We support a broad portfolio of discovery research, including basic biology, genetics, and immunology, engineering and physical sciences applied to cancer
Explore our grant funding and other opportunities to accelerate your research
Clinical
We have a robust portfolio of clinical studies that aim to improve outcomes for people with cancer. We will support studies that are informed by discoveries about the mechanism of how cancer evolves and that enhance understanding of underlying cancer biology
Explore response mode funding, initiatives and infrastructure for clinical and translational researchers
Prevention and population
We will focus on harnessing biological insight to generate new, more targeted preventative interventions
Early detection and diagnosis
We want to detect cancer at the earliest possible point of intervention by understanding the underlying biology of cancers and the transition from health to early disease
Therapeutic innovation
We're embarking on an exciting and novel approach to therapeutic innovation, uniting the strengths of our established drug discovery engines, our network of world-class biology, cutting-edge platform technology, and clinical expertise. This focus on accelerating the discovery and development of new therapeutics forms an integral part of our new innovation engine – Cancer Research Horizons.
Data science
We will realise the potential of data science and advanced analytics, including artificial intelligence, to help discover better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer.
We’re incredibly proud of the work our research community has done since we set out our last strategy in 2014. And now, as our understanding has grown and technologies advanced, we can build on what’s been achieved to refresh our approach and ask new questions.
Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director Research & Innovation
Be one of our innovative researchers
Wherever you are in your career, whether you're new to the lab or growing your research group, we have opportunities for you.
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Our strategy renews our focus on making discoveries, driving progress, bringing hope - leading us to a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
2014 research strategy
In 2014 we outlined our approach to accelerate progress in priority areas including early detection, translation, and developing world-class cancer researchers.
2017 progress report
Our 2017 progress report examines progress in the first 3 years of the 2014 research strategy.