# Prevention and Population Research Project Award

**Funder:** Cancer Research UK
**Budget:** Up to £500k
**Deadline:** 11 September 2026 (Interventional trial outline applications deadline; full applications deadline for November 2026 committee review has passed)
**Duration:** Up to 3 years
**Consortium:** Optional — collaborative applications from research teams across different UK institutions are encouraged; international and commercial organisations may be included as co-investigators/collaborators
**Application:** Non-interventional: single stage (full application). Interventional trials: expression of interest → optional outline → full application
**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-project-award
**Last verified:** 9 August 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds hypothesis-driven primary prevention and population cancer research, including intervention studies. Applicants must be based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute with some postdoctoral experience. Host institution approval required. Industry-sponsored trials are not eligible. Interventional trial applicants must submit an expression of interest first.

## Summary

Cancer Research UK's Prevention and Population Research Project Award funds hypothesis-driven primary prevention and population cancer research, including intervention studies, with grants up to £500k over three years. Applicants must be based at a UK institution and hold postdoctoral experience; collaborative applications across UK institutions are encouraged, and international and commercial partners may be involved. Interventional trials follow an expression-of-interest→outline→full-application pathway, while non-interventional research uses a single-stage process.

## Who should apply

- Researchers with postdoctoral experience based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute
- Teams pursuing hypothesis-driven primary prevention or population-level cancer research
- Applicants planning intervention studies (including trials)
- Collaborative research teams across multiple UK institutions
- Projects involving international or commercial partners as co-investigators or collaborators

## Key dates

- Expression of interest deadline for interventional trials: 11 September 2026
- Full application deadline (non-interventional and outline-stage interventional): check CRUK website for November 2026 committee review submission window
- Up to three-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- Interventional trial applicants must submit an expression of interest before proceeding to outline; do not skip this stage.
- Consortium applications are actively encouraged, include named collaborators from different institutions to strengthen your bid.
- Industry-sponsored trials are ineligible; ensure your funding source and trial sponsorship are clearly documented.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding does the Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Research Project Award provide?

Up to £500,000 per project over a maximum of three years.

### What types of cancer research does this award fund?

Hypothesis-driven primary prevention and population-level cancer research, including intervention studies and trials.

### Who is eligible to apply for the Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Research Project Award?

Researchers with postdoctoral experience based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute.

### Can international researchers or commercial organisations be involved?

Yes, international and commercial organisations may be included as co-investigators or collaborators, though applicants themselves must be UK-based.

### What is the application process for interventional trials?

Interventional trial applicants must submit an expression of interest first, then may submit an optional outline before the full application.

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

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