Against Breast Cancer Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1.1 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months
• Grant Range: £0 - £50,000 (Seed Grants); £50,000+ per annum (Project Grants, 1-4 years)
• Geographic Focus: UK-based institutions (international collaborations welcome if lead applicant in UK)

Contact Details

Website: www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk

Email: info@againstbreastcancer.org.uk

Phone: 01235 534211

Address: Oxfordshire, UK

Note: Currently not seeking proposals - monitor website for future calls.

Overview

Against Breast Cancer Limited (registered charity 1121258) was founded by Dr. Anthony Leathem and his wife Patricia as a personal crusade to combat breast cancer. The charity funds pioneering research into secondary spread breast cancer - the primary cause of breast cancer deaths affecting nearly 12,000 patients annually in the UK. With an annual income of approximately £1.1 million (2023), Against Breast Cancer focuses exclusively on metastatic breast cancer research with a unique emphasis on glycobiology (the study of sugar biology in cancer cells). The charity maintains a flagship partnership with Oxford University's Oriel College, funding Junior Research Fellowships for three-year periods since 2018. As a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), Against Breast Cancer follows best practice peer review guidelines and has built one of the world's largest biobanks with over 23,000 blood and urine samples from UK breast cancer patients collected over 20 years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Seed Grants

• Amount: Less than £50,000
• Duration: Less than 1 year
• Purpose: Gather preliminary data for larger grant applications, or stand-alone projects for innovative research
• Application: When calls are open (currently closed)

Project Grants

• Amount: Greater than £50,000 per annum
• Duration: 1-4 years
• Purpose: Research programmes addressing diagnostic and treatment challenges in metastatic breast cancer
• Application: Often by invitation following successful Seed Grant completion

Fellowship Programme

• Partnership: Oriel College, Oxford University
• Duration: 3-year periods
• Purpose: Support young scientists performing breast cancer research at Oxford

Priority Areas

1. Prevention: Understanding diet and lifestyle factors that impact risk of breast cancer recurrence or secondary spread; providing evidence-based advice to clinicians and patients
2. Detection: Developing biomarkers and diagnostic tools for earlier detection of metastatic breast cancer, including potential home blood/urine test kits
3. Therapies: Developing more effective treatments targeting aberrantly glycosylated markers on metastatic breast cancer cells, with ultimate goal of creating a breast cancer vaccine

Special Interest: Glycobiology research - understanding how sugar arrangements on cancer cell surfaces contribute to metastatic spread

What They Don't Fund

• Overhead and infrastructure expenses
• Equipment-only proposals
• Salaries of tenured scientists (can fund postdoctoral researchers)
• Research not focused on secondary spread/metastatic breast cancer
• Non-UK based lead applicants (though international collaborations are welcome)

Ready to write a winning application for Against Breast Cancer Limited?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees including:

• Founders: Dr. Anthony Leathem (oncologist who discovered key glycobiology findings) and Patricia Leathem
• Jeanne: Founder of Witney Action Group, became trustee in 2002, served as chair 2009-2018
• Jenni: Fellow of Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, HR experience from University of Oxford
• Dr Victoria Harmer: Consultant nurse (breast) and lead nurse for breast screening at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Laura: Jewellery designer, long-time Witney Action Group member, donates proceeds to charity
• Dennis: Consultant breast surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Naomi: Chartered certified accountant (ACCA) and AAT fellow

Scientific Advisory Board

Independent scientists and clinicians in oncology, glycobiology, immunology, epidemiology and chemistry serve as expert advisors. All advisors must declare conflicts of interest and are not permitted to be current trustees or employees of the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Not currently seeking proposals (as of 2025)

When Applications Are Open:

1. Review the charity's research strategy on their website
2. Check eligibility requirements
3. Submit application during call for proposals period
4. Applications assessed using AMRC best practice guidelines

Eligibility Requirements:

• Post-doctoral researchers at UK institutions
• Strong publishing record
• Lead applicant must be employed by host institution for grant term
• Majority of research must take place in UK
• Collaborative applications welcome with letter of support from collaborators

Decision Timeline

Seed Grants Review Process (Approximately 3-4 months):

1. Initial triage by Research Manager for alignment with research strategy
2. Assessment by minimum 3 external scientific experts
3. Assessment by minimum 3 Scientific Advisory Board members
4. Assessment by minimum 2 Research Advocates (lay reviewers)
5. Applications with average impact score ≥6 discussed at final SAB meeting (requires 50%+ quorum)
6. Recommendations passed to Trustees for funding approval

Project Grants: Often invited following successful completion of Seed Grant, with additional external peer review by at least 2 new experts

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. However, the charity's selective focus on metastatic breast cancer and requirement for impact scores ≥6 to reach final discussion suggests competitive selection.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants can revise and resubmit proposals if needed during the review process. No specific information available about unsuccessful applicants reapplying in subsequent rounds.

Application Success Factors

What Against Breast Cancer Prioritizes

1. Clear alignment with metastatic breast cancer research: Projects must address prevention, detection, or therapies for secondary spread
2. Glycobiology focus: Research incorporating sugar biology of cancer cells is particularly valued
3. Scientific merit and innovation: Must demonstrate unique approach and high-quality methodology
4. Applicant track record: Strong publishing history essential
5. Patient relevance: Research Advocates assess real-world impact for breast cancer patients
6. Budget viability: Costs must be directly allocated to research activities

Fundable Costs Include

• Directly allocated research expenses
• Publication fees (open access encouraged)
• Conference travel (up to £1,000 international, £300 national)
• Postdoctoral researcher salaries
• Consumables and materials

What Reviewers Assess

• External scientific experts: Provide impact scores (1-9 scale) on scientific merit, uniqueness, applicant experience, budget viability
• Scientific Advisory Board: Expert scientific review with impact scoring
• Research Advocates: Patient-relevance ranking scores

Standing Out

• Demonstrate how research will ultimately reduce deaths from secondary breast cancer
• Show awareness of the charity's 25+ year focus on glycobiology
• Propose use of or contribution to the charity's unique Biobank resource (23,000+ samples)
• Highlight innovative approaches to prevention, detection, or therapy development
• Evidence strong preliminary data (or use Seed Grant to generate this)
• Show potential for vaccine development or immunotherapy approaches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Highly specialized focus: This charity funds only metastatic/secondary spread breast cancer research - other breast cancer research areas are not funded
2. Glycobiology expertise: 25+ years of focus on sugar biology means applications should acknowledge or incorporate this perspective
3. Competitive but supportive: Multi-stage review with opportunities for revision; Seed Grants can lead to larger Project Grants
4. UK-based requirement: Lead applicant must be at UK institution with majority of research in UK, though international collaborations encouraged
5. Patient-centred approach: Research Advocates assess all applications - must articulate clear patient benefit
6. Long-term research support: Fellowship Programme and follow-on grants show commitment to supporting promising research over time
7. Currently closed: Monitor website regularly for future calls for proposals - applications not accepted on rolling basis
8. AMRC standards: Rigorous peer review following Association of Medical Research Charities best practices ensures high-quality assessment

References

• Against Breast Cancer official website: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/
• Grant application guidelines: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/our-research/applying-for-grants
• Research strategy: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/our-research/our-advisors/our-research-strategy
• Funding review process: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/our-research/applying-for-grants/funding-process
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1121258
• Oriel College partnership announcement: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/research-news/oriel-college-and-against-breast-cancer
• Scientific Advisory Board: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/our-research/our-advisors/scientific-advisory-board
• Trustees information: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/about-us/trustees
• About Us: https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/about-us