CRUK refreshed strategy for children’s and young people’s cancers PLUS two associated new grant calls

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) have published a statement of intent outlining how they intend to support children’s and young people’s cancer research to better understand the underpinnings of this disparate group of diseases and develop more effective and less toxic treatments to increase chances of survival and improve quality of life after treatment.
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/statement-of-intent-for-childrens-and-young-peoples-cancer-research
They will (i) build research capacity in the UK, (ii) develop and support a co-ordinated research community, and (iii) ensure the research community has the tools and infrastructure it needs to progress

As part of this strategy they have launched (1) a new, national funding call and (2) a parallel international call:

before 6 December 2019 you must contact the Science Committee team
10 January 2020 (invited full application)
(1) Children and Young People’s Cancer Innovation Award
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/children-and-young-peoples-cancer-innovation-award
This a three-stage competition, with outline, full application and interview stages.

Awards are for up to £1 million for up to 3 years.

They are particularly interested in applications that include researchers with expertise beyond paediatric cancer research, such as those working in other cancer fields and those in disciplines outside biomedical research, who are interested in using their knowledge and skills to answer key questions in paediatric cancers.

These awards are intended to stimulate new activity and collaborations, and to build capacity within UK paediatric cancer research.
Projects should be focused on transforming our understanding of paediatric tumour biology and developing innovative new ways to treat, detect and prevent these diseases.

They especially encourage proposals to investigate one or more of these concepts:
• The basis of tumor initiation and progression
• Novel therapeutic approaches
• Development of novel biomarkers or methodologies to predict disease progression, to enhance efforts in primary and secondary prevention and intervention
• Novel models that would enhance pre-clinical research
• Development of more effective and/or less toxic treatments to improve long-term health and quality of life

Before applying, please contact the Science Committee team to discuss the application process. They will then open an outline application form on their GrantsManagement system.

Please see the guidelines for full details: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/sc_-_cyp_innovation_award_-_full_-_application_guidelines.pdf

6 December 2019 (Preliminary submission)
10 January 2020 (Final submission)
March 2020 (Interview)
(2) SU2C-CRUK Paediatric Cancer New Discoveries Challenge
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/su2c-cruk-paediatric-cancer-new-discoveries-challenge
Up to $1 million is available in round 1
Applicant teams successful in round 1 will also have the opportunity to apply for a second round of funding to progress their research further

Application information will be available on the SU2C website at the formal launch of request for applications – CRUK will provide details soon.
You are encouraged to contact the SU2C office to discuss your eligibility and suitability of your research proposal.

SU2C-CRUK Paediatric Cancer New Discoveries Challenge aims to support novel and innovative trans-Atlantic collaborations in childhood cancer research.

• These awards will support collaborative, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, transatlantic teams, comprising laboratory and clinical researchers and those at different career stages.
• Teams must be led by at least one researcher from a US institution and one from a UK institution.
• You are strongly encouraged to form a team that includes expertise beyond paediatric oncology (e.g. other areas of oncology, biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, etc.).

Applications can address one or more of the following concepts, with the goal of progressing the approach to a more advanced pre-clinical or clinical setting in round 2:
• the basis of tumour initiation and progression
• novel therapeutic approaches
• development of novel biomarkers or methodologies to predict disease progression, to enhance efforts in primary and secondary prevention and intervention
• novel models that would enhance pre-clinical research
• development of more effective and/or less toxic treatments to improve long-term health and quality of life
CRUK would welcome proposals that advance research in any type of paediatric cancer, including teenagers and young adults, particularly inviting new proposals in paediatric brain tumours.