Pilot research grant round opens with £200,000 investment in research

We're thrilled to announce that our pilot grant applications are now open. We'll be investing up to £200,000 into much needed bowel cancer research, as part of our commitment to support studies with the greatest benefits for those at risk and affected by the disease.

We want to support innovative research that will help to facilitate a 'stage shift' towards earlier diagnosis of bowel cancer in the UK. Currently, fewer than 40% of people are diagnosed at stage 1 and 2 when bowel cancer is most treatable and curable. We want to secure a future where most people are diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.

We'll offer seed funding of £25,000 to eight new research projects. This investment will empower researchers to be bold and try new ideas, creating transformational change for people affected by bowel cancer.

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.

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

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK, says: "We're delighted to launch our next round of research grant funding, which will support high quality, innovative and creative solutions to help lead a step change in the number of people surviving bowel cancer.

"We've been at the forefront of campaigning for improvements for earlier diagnosis. Whilst there have been important steps forward, there are still many unanswered research questions, which if addressed could help accelerate our progress further and ultimately save more lives. Through strategic investment in targeted research, we aim to drive positive change for patients and help to deliver improvements in bowel cancer survival in our lifetime."

• Find out more about how you can apply for a grant and how we decide which projects to fund. If you have any questions, please get in touch at research@bowelcanceruk.org.uk