Bob Champion Cancer Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £395,820 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Rapid assessment policy for carefully selected projects
• Grant Range: £30,000 - £80,000+ per project
• Geographic Focus: National (UK), with primary partnerships at ICR Sutton and UEA Norwich

Contact Details

Address: First Floor, 7 Square Rigger Row, Plantation Wharf, London SW11 3TZ

Phone: 020 7924 3553

Email: lucy@bobchampion.org.uk / info@bobchampion.org.uk

Website: www.bobchampion.org.uk

Registered Charity Number: 1024664

Overview

The Bob Champion Cancer Trust was established in 1983, two years after jockey Bob Champion's miraculous Grand National victory with Aldaniti—a triumph that came just two years after he survived testicular cancer with a prognosis of only months to live. For over 40 years, the Trust has been funding pioneering scientific research into newer and kinder diagnostics and treatments for prostate and other male cancers. To date, the Trust has raised more than £15 million towards cancer research. The Trust operates with one employee, 10 trustees, and focuses on strategic partnerships with two major research institutions: the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey, and the University of East Anglia in Norwich, Norfolk. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to cancer research, Bob Champion was appointed CBE in the 2021 New Year Honours and received an honorary doctorate from the Institute of Cancer Research in October 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Bob Champion Cancer Trust does not operate an open grant application program. Instead, the Trust funds research through strategic partnerships and carefully selected projects at specific institutions:

Major Institutional Partnerships:

• Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Sutton: Co-funded the Male Urological Cancer Research Centre in 2000; currently funds post-doctoral fellows and specific research projects
• University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich: Donated £750,000 to the Bob Champion Research and Education Building; provides major ongoing grant commitment to Professor Colin Cooper and his team

Recent Grant Examples:

• Rachel Hurst project: Initially awarded January 2020 for two years at £80,000, with continued funding through December 2024; BCCT pays approximately 75% of costs (£50,000 per annum)
• Annie Gao project: Awarded July 2021 within the Bob Champion Unit at ICR/Royal Marsden Hospital; £42,000 per year for 3 years
• Dan Brewer (DESNT project): One-year grant at £30,000, completed December 2023
• Professor Colin Cooper projects: Running from October 2025 to October 2028, with previous funding from February 2019 to December 2025

Priority Areas

Male Cancers Research:

• Testicular cancer (reflecting Bob Champion's personal experience)
• Prostate cancer (current primary focus)
• Other malignant diseases particularly in children and young adults, including Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Specific Research Themes:

• Development of diagnostic biomarkers for prostate cancer
• Urine tests for prostate cancer diagnosis
• Distinguishing aggressive from non-aggressive prostate cancers
• Understanding cancer risk and predicting cancer evolution
• Reducing over-treatment and minimizing unnecessary morbidity
• Computational approaches to analyze blood test data
• New treatment strategies for drug-resistant cancers

What They Don't Fund

The Trust does not fund:

• Research outside male cancer focus areas
• Projects not aligned with their two primary research partnerships (ICR and UEA)
• Individual patient support or clinical care
• General cancer charities or fundraising for other organizations

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Governance and Leadership

President: Bob Champion CBE

Executive Director: Lucienne Wilkinson

Medical Advisor: Professor David Dearnaley (independent)

Chairman: Mike Cattermole

Trustees (10 total):

• Susie Burrage OBE
• Alex Embiricos
• Andrew Franklin
• Timothy Fox
• Catherine McAleavey
• Catherine Nash
• Luke Ponsonby
• Bridget Rosser
• Carrie Zetter-Wells

Vice Presidents (9 total, including):

• Clare Balding OBE
• David Gower OBE

Governance Structure:

• Trustees meet four times per calendar year
• Decisions made by resolution in writing signed by all current trustees
• Number of trustees: minimum 3, maximum 10
• Operating under Declaration of Trust dated 29 June 1993
• No trustees receive remuneration

Key Research Partnership Leadership:

• Professor Colin Cooper, Chair of Cancer Genetics at UEA (major grant recipient)
• Research teams at ICR and Royal Marsden Hospital

Quote from Research Context:

Professor Colin Cooper on the research challenge: “Over-treatment of prostate cancers is a particular concern leading to substantial inappropriate morbidity (impotence) in a high proportion of cases.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Bob Champion Cancer Trust operates through strategic partnerships with specific research institutions rather than accepting open applications. Grants are awarded to carefully selected research projects at:

1. The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey
2. The University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk

The Trust follows a “policy of rapid assessment for funding of carefully selected research projects,” but this selection occurs through existing institutional partnerships and trustee discretion rather than competitive application rounds.

Research institutions or individual researchers should not submit unsolicited applications. Instead, potential beneficiaries are identified through:

• Existing relationships with ICR and UEA
• Recommendations from the Trust's independent Medical Advisor
• Trustee connections and sector knowledge
• Strategic alignment discussions with partner institutions

Application Success Factors

Since the Bob Champion Cancer Trust does not accept open applications, success in securing funding depends on:

Institutional Affiliation:

• Being affiliated with the Institute of Cancer Research or University of East Anglia significantly increases funding prospects
• Projects must align with the research priorities of these partner institutions

Research Focus Alignment:

• Strong emphasis on male cancers, particularly prostate cancer
• Research that develops practical diagnostic tools (e.g., urine tests, blood test analysis)
• Projects addressing over-treatment and reducing patient morbidity
• Innovation in distinguishing aggressive from non-aggressive cancers

The Trust's Strategic Approach:

• Emphasis on “rapid assessment” suggests they value projects ready for immediate implementation
• Preference for projects with clear clinical applications
• Multi-year funding commitments indicate preference for substantial, impactful research
• Co-funding arrangements (e.g., Trust pays 75% of costs) suggest collaborative funding models

Evidence from Funded Projects:

• Projects typically run 1-3 years with option for extension
• Annual funding ranges from £30,000 to £50,000+ per year
• Post-doctoral fellowships are a key funding mechanism
• Computational and AI approaches to cancer diagnosis appear well-aligned with current priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This Trust operates exclusively through institutional partnerships with ICR and UEA; unsolicited applications are not accepted
• Strategic partnerships are essential: Success requires affiliation with one of the Trust's two partner research institutions
• Male cancer focus is absolute: All funded research must relate to testicular cancer, prostate cancer, or related male malignancies
• Rapid assessment approach: The Trust prides itself on quick decision-making for carefully selected projects, suggesting efficient internal processes once projects reach trustee consideration
• Multi-year commitments valued: Recent grants show 2-3 year funding periods, indicating preference for substantial research programs over pilot studies
• Clinical translation matters: Projects developing practical diagnostic tools and reducing patient harm align strongly with the Trust's mission
• Personal connection to testicular cancer: The Trust's origin story (Bob Champion's survival and 1981 Grand National victory) remains central to its identity, though prostate cancer has become the primary focus

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Penguins Against Cancer
• Sir Samuel Scott of Yews Trust
• NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH (INCORPORATING CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER RESEARCH CCR)
• MYRISTICA TRUST
• Brain Tumour Research
• The John Black Charitable Foundation
• BMA Foundation
• PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH
• Prevent Breast Cancer
• J P Moulton Charitable Foundation

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - Bob Champion Cancer Trust (Charity Number 1024664)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1024664

1. Bob Champion Cancer Trust Official Website - About Us section

https://www.bobchampion.org.uk/about-us.htm

1. Bob Champion Cancer Trust Official Website - Research Report (Professor Colin Cooper)

https://www.bobchampion.org.uk/research-report.htm

1. Bob Champion Cancer Trust Official Website - World Leading Medical Research and Education Building

https://www.bobchampion.org.uk/world-leading-medical-research-and-education-building.htm

1. The Institute of Cancer Research - The Bob Champion Cancer Trust donor story

https://www.icr.ac.uk/support-us/meet-our-supporters/donor-stories/the-bob-champion-cancer-trust

1. Charity Commission - Bob Champion Cancer Trust accounts and annual returns (financial year ending June 2023)

1. University of East Anglia Research Portal - Colin Cooper research projects

https://research-portal.uea.ac.uk/en/persons/colin-cooper/

1. Multiple news sources regarding Bob Champion's honorary doctorate from ICR