World Cancer Research Fund

WCRF funds research into the effects of diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity on cancer prevention and cancer survivorship. It supports innovative, multidisciplinary projects across the cancer journey, including biomedical and behavioural studies, epidemiology, cohort analyses, interventions and knowledge dissemination. The Fund prioritises bold and creative proposals with potential to catalyse rapid and impactful advances in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship, with particular interest in novel exposures such as stress, sleep and host factors like immune function. Research is funded across the UK and Europe, with a priority on UK-based work.

WCRF welcomes applications from universities, medical schools, hospitals, research institutes and academic centres. Eligible applicants must be employed on a research contract within a department at a university-affiliated research institution or a medical school conducting research. The Fund supports early career investigators and is open to researchers worldwide, though it prioritises UK-based work. Commercial organisations are not eligible. The Fund does not fund research on anti-cancer drugs or cancer treatment.

WCRF does not fund research on anti-cancer drugs or cancer treatment. Applications that propose solely cell line studies will not be accepted, nor will tumour models in animals induced by chemical carcinogens or any studies outside mammalian systems. Proposals focusing on the role of isolated food or herb extracts that are not part of the usual diet are also excluded.

WCRF provides multi-year grants for research projects, with no match funding required. It welcomes unsolicited applications through its grant programmes, which are open to eligible researchers. The Fund supports investigator-initiated research, emphasising collaboration and scientific rigour in its funding approach.