# Prevention and Population Programme Award

**Funder:** Cancer Research UK
**Budget:** Up to £2.5m
**Deadline:** 11 September 2026 (Outline applications close; two rounds per year)
**Duration:** 5 years
**Consortium:** Optional — applications from research teams across different UK institutions encouraged; international and commercial organisations may be included as co-investigators and collaborators
**Application:** 2-stage: outline application → full application (reviewed in subsequent round)
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-funding-schemes/prevention-population-research-programme-award
**Last updated:** 9 Aug 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Open to scientists, clinicians or healthcare workers based at UK universities, medical schools, hospitals or research institutions. Applicants must have extensive postdoctoral experience and an internationally recognised track record. Host institution must fully fund the applicant's post for the award duration. Covers primary prevention and population research with cancer relevance and line-of-sight to clinical or population impact.

## Summary

The Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Programme Award funds researchers leading independent groups to pursue primary prevention and population-level cancer research, with up to £2.5 million over five years. Eligible applicants are scientists, clinicians, or healthcare workers based at UK institutions with substantial postdoctoral experience and an established research team; the host institution must provide full salary support for the duration. The call covers epidemiology, translational prevention, clinical trials, and behavioural interventions with cancer relevance, and runs on an annual two-stage cycle.

## Who should apply

- Established independent research group leaders with substantial postdoctoral experience
- Scientists, clinicians, or healthcare workers based at UK universities, medical schools, hospitals, or research institutions
- Applicants whose host institution provides full salary support for the five-year award duration
- Researchers in epidemiology, translational prevention, clinical trials, or behavioural science with cancer relevance

## Key dates

- Outline applications deadline 11 September 2026; full applications due January 2027
- Two-stage: shortlisted outline applicants invited to submit full proposal and attend interview
- Five-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- The outline stage is competitive; frame your prevention angle and population reach concisely in the 5-page format.
- Host institution salary cover is a hard gate, confirm full funding support before investing application effort.
- Interview panels value evidence of implementation pathways for prevention; include stakeholder engagement plans in the full proposal.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much can I apply for in the Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Programme Award?

Up to £2.5 million over five years.

### Who is eligible for the Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Programme Award?

Scientists, clinicians, or healthcare workers with extensive postdoctoral experience leading independent research groups at UK universities, medical schools, hospitals, or research institutions, with full salary funding from the host institution.

### What research areas does the Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Programme Award cover?

Primary prevention and population-level cancer research including epidemiology, translational prevention, clinical trials, and behavioural interventions.

### Is the Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Programme Award recurring?

Yes, the call runs annually with outline applications in September and full applications in January.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/cancer-research-uk-prevention-and-population-programme-award-2026-09) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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