Funding for oncology research

The NC3Rs funds research to support the development and dissemination of oncology models that replace, reduce or refine the use of animals. This includes a collaboration with Cancer Research UK (CRUK), where we have jointly funded six Skills and Knowledge Transfer awards since 2019. These awards support the transfer of new methods to implement the 3Rs in cancer research.  

The funding schemes below may be of interest to oncology researchers: 

• NC3Rs funding schemes support research and innovation and the transfer of 3Rs approaches between laboratories. The Project grant scheme supports the development of new oncology 3Rs approaches and technologies. Studentships embed the 3Rs in the training of graduate scientists.
• CRUK is the largest independent funder of cancer research in Europe and funds projects across discovery, translational, clinical, prevention and population sciences. The CRUK Funding for Researchers page provides information on strategic priorities for the organisation.
• Worldwide Cancer Research funds pioneering cancer discovery research from anywhere around the world. Their mission is to kick-start life-saving advances of the future by funding new discoveries today, backing brand new ideas and supporting scientists to ask big, challenging new questions about cancer.
• Regional cancer charities support research projects focusing on the specific needs of their region. Regional charities may only fund research taking place within the region (for example North West Cancer Research funds research taking place in North West England or North Wales) or they may fund research taking place across the UK (for example Yorkshire Cancer Research funds UK-wide projects that address their strategic priorities).
• Cancer-specific charities fund research into particular cancers. For example, Breast Cancer Now funds research to benefit people at risk of or affected by breast cancer, and Prostate Cancer UK funds research that will stop men dying from prostate cancer.
• The UKRI funding finder can be used to find suitable funding opportunities across the research councils.