Apply for a grant
COMING SOON: Early diagnosis Project Grants opening for applications in early May 2024!
Introduction
We’re excited to announce that we’ll shortly be accepting applications for our early diagnosis project grant awards allowing researchers to apply for up to £165K over a 2-3 year period for innovative research that will help to facilitate a 'stage shift' towards earlier diagnosis of bowel cancer in the UK.
Background
Currently, fewer than 40% of people are diagnosed at stage one and two when bowel cancer is most treatable and curable. We want to secure a future where most people are diagnosed at the earliest possible stage. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK. However, it shouldn't be because it is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early.
Remit and eligibility
We aim to fund the best highest quality research and our areas of interest include (but aren't limited to):
- understanding and overcoming barriers to symptomatic individuals seeking help
- research into innovative solutions to support earlier diagnosis across primary and secondary care
- initiatives to increase uptake of bowel cancer screening in areas of low engagement, including addressing the impact of health inequalities
- research focused on improving our national bowel cancer screening programmes, including new modes of screening, improvements to using FIT and risk stratification.
Applicants are expected to have some preliminary data to support the application. Funding can cover salaries and consumables (that are direct costs of the project including animal costs).
The Lead Applicant must be based in a recognised academic or clinical institution in the UK and be in a tenured position, or hold a contract with the host that extends beyond the lifetime of the grant.
All costs must be fully justified within the application. We won't cover the costs of tenured staff members on grants, nor those whose salaries are already covered by other means.
We will not accept applications that are:
- For further education, e.g. MSc/PhD and course fees
- For Clinical Research Training Fellowships
- For work primarily undertaken outside the UK
- For ‘top up’ funding for specific projects already supported by other funding bodies
Application and Assessment Process
Application window: The call will open in early May 2024 and close to applications in mid July 2024.
Review process: Following receipt of eligible applications, the Scientific Advisory Board will carry out an assessment. Learn more about our expert review process.
Funding Decisions: Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submission by the end of 2024.
Patient involvement
Applicants are strongly encouraged to actively involve patient representatives from the outset to help shape and deliver their research project from early design through to the dissemination of results. The involvement of people affected by bowel cancer can lead to better quality and therefore, more fundable, applications. Find out more about involving patients in your research.
Full guidance notes will be available when the call opens, but eligible applicants should start planning their applications and potential collaborations from now.
To keep up to date with the latest information on this call, sign up for grant round notifications.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like to discuss an application with the Research team, please email research@bowelcanceruk.org.uk.
Research policies
We support the Association of Medical Research Charities' (AMRC) position statement on using animals in research. You can read our full statement here.
All members of our Scientific Advisory Board and Lay Review Panel are required to sign up to our Conflict of Interest policy prior to reviewing any grant applications. You can read a copy of our Conflict of Interest Policy here.
We're committed to ensuring that the results of the research we fund are disseminated as widely as possible. You can read our open access policy here.
Support from the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN)
We're a non-commercial Partner of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). This means the studies that we fund may be eligible to access the NIHR Study Support Service which is provided by the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The NIHR Clinical Research Network can now support health and social care research taking place in non-NHS settings, such as studies running in care homes or hospices, or public health research taking place in schools and other community settings. Read the full policy: Eligibility Criteria for NIHR Clinical Research Network Support.
In partnership with your local R&D office, we encourage you to involve your local NIHR Clinical Research Network team in discussions as early as possible when planning your study. This will enable you to fully benefit from the support available through the NIHR Study Support Service. To find out more, please visit: www.nihr.ac.uk/study-support-service
If your study involves NHS sites in England, you'll need to apply for Health Research Authority Approval. For guidance on submitting an application please visit: www.hra.nhs.uk
Further information
- Following receipt of applications, the Scientific Advisory Board will carry out an initial assessment. Learn more about our peer review process
- Read our FAQs on applying for a grant with us
- Find out more about involving patients in your research