Bone Cancer Research Trust

Charity Number: 1159590

Annual Expenditure: £3.2M

Throughout England And Wales, Scotland

Contact Info

Website: www.bcrt.org.uk

Phone: 0113 258 5934

Email: info@bcrt.org.uk

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £1-2 million (based on recent commitments)
Success Rate: 36% (since 2020; 48% overall historic rate)
Decision Time: Variable by grant type
Grant Range: £3,000 - £1,000,000
Geographic Focus: UK-based institutions (some international collaborators permitted)
Total Funding to Date: Over £11 million across 240+ grants

Contact Details

Website: www.bcrt.org.uk

Email: info@bcrt.org.uk

Phone: 0113 258 5934

Research Team Email: [email protected]

Overview

The Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT) was founded in 2006 and is the UK's largest dedicated funder of primary bone cancer research. Registered charity number 1159590, BCRT has committed over £11 million to pioneering research through 240+ research grants since inception. The organization's mission is to improve outcomes for patients with all forms of primary bone cancer, including osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, chordoma, spindle cell sarcoma, and adamantinoma. BCRT's current 10-year strategy (2022-2032), “More Patients Surviving. More Patients Thriving,” commits £10 million to life-saving research. Between 2021-2023, BCRT doubled its research investment, committing £4 million over two years. The charity takes a comprehensive approach, supporting research at all career stages from pilot projects through to clinical trials, with a strong emphasis on patient involvement through their Patient & Public Involvement Panel.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Ideas Grants: £20,000-25,000

Small grants to collect preliminary data or demonstrate study validity. Applications submitted via online portal on rolling basis.

Infrastructure Grants: Up to £25,000

Support for surgical centres to facilitate patient specimen collection.

Explorer Grants: Up to £70,000

For substantiating studies with preliminary work already established. Particularly welcomes applications focusing on rare forms of primary bone cancer. Cannot support PhD studentships.

Skills Development Grants: Up to £3,000

Rolling scheme supporting conference attendance and short-term laboratory visits for early career researchers. Applications considered on a rolling basis.

Studentships: Up to £170,000

Funding for up to 4 years of PhD/MD study in primary bone cancer research.

Early Career Fellowships: Up to £500,000

For post-doctoral candidates establishing themselves as primary bone cancer researchers, funding up to 3 years.

Clinical/Translational Grants: Up to £500,000

Supporting clinical trials and translational research.

Research Programme Grants: Up to £1,000,000

Larger grants for substantial research programmes. Contact research team to discuss applications over £100,000.

Clinical Trial Support: Up to £100,000

Additional support for ongoing clinical trials (observational or interventional).

Research Meeting Grants: Up to £10,000

Sponsorship for national primary bone cancer research meetings to promote collaboration.

Priority Areas

Research into all forms of primary bone cancer (osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, chordoma, spindle cell sarcoma, adamantinoma)
Finding a cure for primary bone cancer
Understanding causes and mechanisms
Improving diagnosis and early detection
Developing new treatment targets
Enhancing patient care and treatment options
Collaborative research projects
Rare primary bone cancer research particularly encouraged
Research with clear potential for patient impact

What They Don't Fund

Quality of life research (currently not considered)
Epidemiology projects (currently not considered)
Research not focused on primary bone cancer
Projects without clear relevance to patient outcomes

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

David Elston - Chair of Trustees

Will Burchell - Chief Executive Officer (appointed 2023)

Dr Zoe Davison - Director of Research and Information & Deputy CEO

Ebru Sami-Taylor - Director of Finance and Operations

Kate Connor - Director of Fundraising

Trustees

Professor Bernadette Brennan - Trustee, specializing in pediatric oncology

Charlene Young - Trustee, bone cancer survivor and patient advocate

Andrew Booth - Trustee, technology executive (joined April 2023)

Margaret Moore OBE - Trustee, former commercial lawyer

Rob Grimer - Founding Trustee, Professor of Orthopaedic Oncology at Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham

Patricia - Founding Trustee, whose involvement came after losing her daughter Krystle to Ewing sarcoma

Leadership Insights

Will Burchell has emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating: “Witnessing the incredible efforts of #TeamBones... is truly inspiring.”

BCRT was founded by parents who lost children to primary bone cancer, giving the organization a deeply personal connection to its mission and ensuring patient perspectives remain central to decision-making.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Most funding calls announced on website (www.bcrt.org.uk) and social media channels
Direct mailing to database of registered researchers
Some schemes use “expression of interest” stage before full application
Skills Development Grants operate on rolling basis - applications accepted anytime
Contact research team at [email protected] for application forms
For grants over £100,000, contact BCRT to discuss scope before applying

Decision Timeline

Initial Processing:

Applications acknowledged and assigned internal reference
Initial triage against eligibility criteria
Ineligible applications returned with explanations

Review Process:

At least two expert peer reviewers (internal or external) assigned
Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) panel provides lay reviews
Written, oral, or combined review formats used

Decision Making:

Independent Scientific Advisory Panel (ISAP) discusses and ranks applications
ISAP recommendations presented to Board of Trustees for final approval
All applicants receive anonymised feedback on applications

Specific timelines vary by grant type. BCRT normally issues two main research calls per year.

Success Rates

Overall historic success rate: 48% (from 2006 to end of 2024)
Recent success rate: 36% (since 2020)
Applications assessed: 191 total since 2006
Peer reviewers involved: Approximately 380 from UK and internationally

Since adopting 2017-2022 and 2022-2024 research strategies, BCRT has seen exponential increase in applications. The decreased success rate reflects growing community of primary bone cancer researchers, which BCRT views positively. Competition for larger grants is particularly intense.

Reapplication Policy

BCRT has a formal resubmission policy (Version 3, March 2023). All applicants receive detailed anonymised feedback which can inform resubmissions. The charity is committed to fair and transparent funding processes following AMRC's six principles of expert review: proportionality, independence, diversity, rotation, impartiality, and transparency.

Application Success Factors

Key Evaluation Criteria

Applications assessed on:

Relevance: How proposal aligns with BCRT aims and potential to improve outcomes for primary bone cancer patients
Scientific merit: Originality and soundness of hypothesis
Methodology: Appropriateness of proposed methods
Project planning: Realistic timescales, clear progression milestones, appropriate costs
Patient impact: Clear demonstration of how research will benefit patients
Collaborative potential: Particularly valued for rare bone cancers

Strategic Alignment

BCRT particularly values:

Research addressing rare forms of primary bone cancer
Projects demonstrating strong collaborative elements
Applications from early career researchers (32% of total investment supports this group)
Research that involves patients through PPI mechanisms
Clear pathway to clinical application or patient benefit

Recent Funded Projects

First Clinical Trial Support Grant: Introducing Lenvatinib to rEECur trial for Ewing sarcoma
International funding: Improving diagnosis and treatment targets for adamantinoma
Infrastructure impact: Facilitated collection of 12,438 patient samples through Infrastructure Grants
Early career support: 45 research grants supporting early career researchers

Tips for Success

Demonstrate patient relevance: Clearly articulate how research will improve patient outcomes
Address rare cancers: Applications focusing on rarer primary bone cancers are particularly welcome
Build collaborations: Projects showing collaborative elements are valued
Use preliminary data: For Explorer Grants, strong preliminary work is essential
Align with strategy: Review BCRT's 2022-2032 strategy to ensure alignment with priorities
Involve patients: Consider how PPI could strengthen your application
Be comprehensive: Provide thorough methodology and realistic timescales
Consider career stage: Early career researchers should highlight professional development aspects
Contact research team: For larger grants or clarifications, engage with research team before submission
Use feedback: If resubmitting, thoroughly address previous reviewer feedback

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

BCRT is the UK's largest dedicated primary bone cancer research funder - they have genuine expertise and commitment to this specific field
Success rates have decreased to 36% since 2020 due to increased applications - applications must be highly competitive and demonstrate clear patient benefit
Patient involvement is central - all research decisions informed by Patient & Public Involvement Panel; applications should demonstrate patient relevance
Range of funding available - from £3,000 skills grants to £1 million programme grants; consider starting smaller to build relationship
Rare cancers prioritized - applications focusing on less common primary bone cancers like adamantinoma or chordoma particularly welcome
Collaboration valued - multi-site or interdisciplinary projects viewed positively
Detailed feedback provided - all applicants receive anonymised reviewer comments, making resubmission viable
Rolling opportunities exist - Skills Development Grants accepted year-round; good entry point for early career researchers
£10 million commitment over 10 years - BCRT is scaling up significantly; new applicants welcome as they build research community
Contact research team proactively - particularly for larger grants or novel approaches; BCRT encourages dialogue before submission

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

Bone Cancer Research Trust - For Researchers page. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/research/for-researchers/

Bone Cancer Research Trust - Current Research Grant Programme. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/research/apply-for-funding/our-current-research-grant-programme

Bone Cancer Research Trust - Grant Success Rates. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/research/apply-for-funding/grant-success-rates

Bone Cancer Research Trust - How We Fund Research. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/research/how-we-fund-research/

Bone Cancer Research Trust - 2022-2032 Strategy “More Patients Surviving. More Patients Thriving.” https://www.bcrt.org.uk/about/our-2022-2032-strategy

Bone Cancer Research Trust - Meet the Team. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/about/meet-the-team/

Bone Cancer Research Trust - Annual Report and Accounts. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/about/accounts

Bone Cancer Research Trust - Striving for Progress Through Research Impact Report 2023. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/research/striving-for-progress-through-research-research-impact-report-2023

Charity Commission Register - BONE CANCER RESEARCH TRUST (1159590). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1159590

Bone Cancer Research Trust - News Archives 2024. https://www.bcrt.org.uk/news/2024/