Cancer Research Wales

Charity Number: 1167290

Annual Expenditure: £2.9M
Geographic Focus: Throughout Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2.9 million (charitable activities expenditure 2024/25)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (multi-stage peer review process)
  • Grant Range: £40,000 - £500,000 (depending on grant type)
  • Geographic Focus: Wales (national)

Contact Details

Website: www.cancerresearchwales.co.uk

Email: contact-us@cancerresearchwales.org.uk

Phone: 02921 855050

Research Enquiries: grants@cancerresearchwales.org.uk

Head of Research: Dr. Lee Campbell (lee.campbell@cancerresearchwales.org.uk)

Overview

Cancer Research Wales (Charity Number 1167290) is the only charity wholly dedicated to funding new cancer research in Wales. Founded in 1966, the organization has invested more than £30 million in exemplary research across Wales. In the last decade alone, they have pledged over £15 million for new research projects. With total income of £4.3 million (2024/25) and 50 staff supported by 200 volunteers, Cancer Research Wales focuses on funding PhDs, post-doctoral fellowships, and project grants to address the biggest challenges and key priorities for cancer in Wales. Under the leadership of CEO Adam Fletcher (appointed 2024) and Chair Gavin Moore (appointed March 2024), the organization launched its ambitious 2024-2029 Research Strategy and committed £1 million annually to a new Brain Tumour Research Initiative, demonstrating their strategic commitment to emerging research priorities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Research Fellowships: Up to £500,000 (aims to recruit and retain the best cancer researchers in Wales)
  • Innovation Grants: £40,000 (for innovative pilot or proof-of-principle studies)
  • PhD Studentships: Fully funded 3-year programmes (£19,237 per annum stipend plus generous research budget for consumables and travel)
  • Post-doctoral Project Grants: Amount varies (specific amounts not publicly disclosed)
  • Brain Tumour Research Initiative Grants: Up to £500,000 (dedicated funding stream launched in 2024)

All grant calls typically open annually with rolling application processes requiring an initial expression of interest submission.

Priority Areas

Cancer Research Wales funds research aligned with their four strategic research pillars:

  1. Cancer Discovery and Translational Research: Understanding cancer development, progression, and resistance mechanisms
  2. Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis: Improving early cancer detection and prevention strategies
  3. Better Treatments: Developing safer, more personalized cancer treatments and therapies
  4. Health Systems and Cancer Outcomes Research: Improving cancer care infrastructure and understanding systemic challenges

Projects can take place in any cancer-related field and are not limited to specific cancer types. Recent funding has supported research at Bangor University, Cardiff University, and Swansea University across areas including brain tumours, bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and gynaecological cancers.

What They Don't Fund

  • Animal research: Cancer Research Wales does not fund research in which animals are used and does not intend to do so in future (though as a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, they accept the AMRC position statement on the use of animals in research)
  • Research that does not align with their four strategic research pillars
  • Projects outside Wales (researchers must be associated with Welsh institutions including NHS Wales, universities, or other academic/research institutions in Wales)
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Governance and Leadership

Chair of Board of Trustees: Gavin Moore (appointed March 2024) - Over 25 years in senior financial management and programme leadership for major companies including BT, CBRE, EE and Orange. Previously served as Cancer Research Wales Treasurer (2016-2023) and has been a trustee since 2011.

Chief Executive Officer: Adam Fletcher (appointed 2024) - Former head of British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru since 2017, with previous experience as a public health researcher and lecturer at Cardiff University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Head of Research: Dr. Lee Campbell (lee.campbell@cancerresearchwales.org.uk) - Joined Cancer Research Wales in 2010, provides oversight and research governance for the charity's portfolio of clinical and academic cancer research projects across Wales.

Scientific Committee: Makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees on funding decisions and advises on the charity's Research Strategy. The committee scrutinizes and votes on applications, with only the strongest applications recommended for funding.

The organization currently has 50 employees supported by 200 volunteers. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Expression of Interest Stage: When grant calls open (typically annually), researchers submit an expression of interest
  2. Initial Assessment: Expressions checked for eligibility and strategic fit with Cancer Research Wales aims
  3. Full Application: Successful applicants invited to submit full applications
  4. Peer Review: Applications sent to at least 3 independent external experts in the relevant field who score and comment on applications
  5. Potential Rebuttal: Applicants may be asked to provide rebuttal to reviewer comments
  6. Scientific Committee Review: Committee scrutinizes applications, considers peer review scores and comments, and votes on applications
  7. Board Approval: Scientific Committee recommendations communicated to Board of Trustees for final funding approval
  8. Feedback: Anonymized feedback provided to all applicants regardless of outcome

All applications undergo rigorous review following Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) guidance on grant review processes.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines are not publicly disclosed, though the multi-stage process involving expression of interest, peer review by at least 3 independent experts, Scientific Committee review, and Board of Trustees approval suggests a timeline of several months from initial submission to final decision.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, Cancer Research Wales emphasizes they “only fund high-quality research” and “only the strongest applications are recommended for funding,” indicating a competitive selection process.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly disclosed in available materials. Applicants should contact the Head of Research, Dr. Lee Campbell, for guidance on reapplication after unsuccessful submissions.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Pillars: Applications must clearly align with one or more of the four research pillars. Cancer Research Wales explicitly states that proposals should align with their Research Strategy themes.

Welsh Focus: Projects must be based in Wales and associated with Welsh institutions (NHS Wales, universities, or other academic/research institutions). Cancer Research Wales aims to “support the best research in Wales for Wales.”

Innovation and Impact: Innovation Grants specifically seek “innovative pilot or proof-of-principle studies,” while the Brain Tumour Research Initiative aims to make Wales “a leader in brain tumour research.”

Quality over Quantity: With peer review by at least 3 independent experts and scrutiny by the Scientific Committee, applications must demonstrate exceptional research quality and scientific rigor.

Strategic Fit: Recent awards demonstrate funding for diverse cancer types (brain, bowel, breast, prostate, gynaecological, lung) across the research spectrum from fundamental discovery to health systems research.

Career Development: Strong support for emerging researchers through PhD studentships and post-doctoral project grants, with emphasis on building Wales' research capacity.

No Animal Research: Crucially, proposals involving animal research will not be funded under any circumstances.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

  • Dr Paul Facey (Swansea): How gut bacteria impact chemotherapy for bowel cancer (£99,081)
  • Dr Edgar Hartsuiker (Bangor): Targeting MRE11 protein to develop new cancer drugs (£100,000)
  • Dr Oommen Oommen (Cardiff): Engineering prostate cancer models (£100,000)
  • Dr Youcef Mehellou (Cardiff): New drugs targeting STAT3 in aggressive breast cancer (£99,733)
  • Dr Lee Parry (Cardiff): Engineering bacteria to deliver drugs directly to tumours (£63,838)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Wales-focused mission: Cancer Research Wales is the only charity wholly dedicated to funding cancer research specifically in Wales—emphasize how your research serves Welsh patients and builds Welsh research capacity
  • No animal research policy: This is a hard exclusion—ensure your methodology does not involve animal models or testing
  • Align with strategic pillars: Clearly articulate how your research fits within one or more of the four strategic pillars (Discovery & Translational, Prevention & Early Diagnosis, Better Treatments, or Health Systems)
  • Multi-stage process: Prepare for a rigorous process involving expression of interest, full application, peer review by at least 3 experts, and committee scrutiny—ensure quality at every stage
  • Career development focus: Strong emphasis on supporting PhD students and post-doctoral researchers—highlight career development opportunities if applicable
  • Innovation valued: The Innovation Grant stream specifically supports pilot and proof-of-principle studies—don't shy away from novel approaches if you have a strong rationale
  • Build relationships: Contact Dr. Lee Campbell (Head of Research) for guidance on strategic fit before applying, particularly for first-time applicants or innovative proposals

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