Cris Cancer Foundation

Charity Number: 1140193

Annual Expenditure: £3.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.6 million (based on £18 million over 10 years)
  • Future Commitment: £48 million pledged over next 5 years
  • Grant Range: €70,000 - £2,000,000+ (varies by program)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (applications reviewed after deadline)
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Spain, France (international partnerships)

Contact Details

Website: www.criscancer.org.uk

Email: info@criscancer.org.uk

Phone: 020 7630 9410

Application Enquiries: convocatorias@criscancer.org, clinicaltrials@criscancer.org

Overview

CRIS Cancer Foundation is an independent international non-profit organization founded in 2011 by Lola Manterola and Diego Megia following Lola's diagnosis with multiple myeloma. Registered as UK charity 1140193, CRIS stands for “Cancer Research Innovation in Science” and operates across the UK, Spain, and France. Over the past decade, CRIS has distributed over £18 million to research bodies including the Institute of Cancer Research, and has pledged to invest an additional £48 million over the next five years. The foundation focuses on funding translational research for cancer types that typically face resource challenges or difficulty obtaining financing, with particular emphasis on paediatric and haematological oncology. CRIS has facilitated over 100 clinical trials and supports multi-disciplinary teams of doctors, researchers, nurses, and immunologists.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • GRF-CRIS Clinical Scientist Emerging Leader Programme: €210,000 over three years (€70,000 annually) for early-career clinician scientists at Gustave Roussy Institute
  • CRIS Cancer Foundation & Oxford Cancer Clinical Career Fellow Award: Up to £74,600 per year for up to three years, covering salary, research consumables, clinical activities
  • GR-CRIS Real-Life Trials in Oncology Programme: Maximum €1,500,000 over three years (€500,000 annually) distributed across awarded proposals
  • CRIS Out-Back Programme: €280,000 over four years (€70,000 annually) for doctors developing training abroad to establish careers in Spain
  • Major Institutional Partnerships: Large grants (£2+ million) to research institutions like ICR for specific research programs

Application Method: Primarily invitation-based with strategic planning by Scientific Director and Board of Trustees. Some programs have open competitive calls with fixed deadlines (typically April-June).

Priority Areas

  • Paediatric cancers: Childhood brain tumours, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, solid tumours
  • Haematological malignancies: Multiple myeloma, various leukaemias
  • Immunotherapy research: CAR-T cell therapy, novel immunotherapies, “off-the-shelf” treatments
  • Translational research: Projects bridging laboratory discoveries to clinical applications
  • Clinical trials: Real-life trials, pragmatic trials, innovative therapeutic approaches
  • Underserved cancer types: Cancers with fewer resources or difficulty obtaining funding
  • Novel treatments: Research for patients not responding to standard treatments

What They Don't Fund

CRIS generally does not finance projects outside their strategic plan, though may consider unsolicited proposals representing significant clinical advances or highly innovative approaches. The foundation focuses on cancer research exclusively and prioritizes translational projects with clear clinical potential.

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Governance and Leadership

Founders and Leadership:

  • Lola Manterola (President and Co-founder): Multiple myeloma survivor whose participation in a clinical trial inspired CRIS's founding. Manterola states: “Beating cancer is a matter of money and knowledge. If we invest more, the research will advance faster.” She emphasizes: "Cancer patients don't have time to wait. Together we all have a part to play in supporting innovative cancer research."
  • Diego Megia (Co-founder): Financial sector expertise. Megia notes: “We are convinced that it is the researchers who save lives.”

Governance Structure: Scientific Director and Board of Trustees set annual research strategies. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Partnerships: Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Oxford Cancer, Gustave Roussy Foundation, Hospital de La Paz, Hospital 12 de Octubre, with significant partnerships across Europe and North America.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Primary Approach: CRIS Foundation typically operates through strategic planning and invitation:

  1. Scientific Director and Board of Trustees set annual research strategies
  2. Foundation contacts Spanish State Research Agency to identify potential research groups
  3. Top three identified groups are invited to submit proposals
  4. Researchers draft 3-year project proposals adjusted to agreed financing

Open Competitive Programs: Some programs have open application periods with specific deadlines:

  • Applications open: April 1
  • Applications close: Mid-June (typically June 16 at 23:59 CET)
  • Submit via: Online forms during application period or email to convocatorias@criscancer.org and clinicaltrials@criscancer.org

Unsolicited Proposals: May be considered if representing significant clinical advances or highly innovative approaches, though these are exceptions to the strategic planning process.

Decision Timeline

Decisions made after application deadline closure. Specific timelines vary by program. All rejected applications receive an email detailing rejection reasons. Annual evaluation conducted for ongoing projects with submission of updates to State Research Agency.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data not publicly available. Competitive programs typically award 1-3 grants per call. Foundation prioritizes strategic fit and innovation over volume of applications.

Reapplication Policy

Candidates who decline awards after selection may not reapply to subsequent programs unless reasons are duly justified and documented. Policy for unsuccessful applicants not explicitly stated, though annual calls suggest reapplication is possible in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

Selection Criteria Priorities

Research Group Evaluation:

  • Historical track record and experience in proposed field
  • Research stability
  • Group's reputation and expertise

Project Assessment:

  • Relevance to cancer research priorities
  • Translational potential (ability to impact patient care)
  • Innovation and novelty
  • Project feasibility and realistic timelines
  • Additional funding sources (complementary financing valued)
  • Geographic preference for projects in Spain (though UK and France also funded)

Strategic Alignment

CRIS prioritizes projects that:

  • Address cancer types with fewer resources or funding difficulties
  • Provide options for patients not responding to standard treatments
  • Offer potential for clinical application within reasonable timeframes
  • Involve multi-disciplinary collaboration
  • Demonstrate clear clinical need

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

  • Dr. Rebecca Ling (Oxford, 2025): Developing “off-the-shelf” CAR iNKT immunotherapies for high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia in children
  • Dr. Casmir Turnquist (Oxford, 2025): Childhood cancer research (specific focus not detailed)
  • CRIS Unit for Research and Advanced Therapies in Childhood Cancer: CAR-T cell therapy validation for solid and haematological tumours
  • ICR Immunotherapy Lab: Multiple myeloma and childhood brain tumour research
  • Lung cancer vaccine project: Preventive immunotherapy approach

Quotes on What They Seek

Lola Manterola: “Investing in research is investing in life.”

On innovation: “We are at a crucial moment in the history of cancer research and treatment. For the first time, technology and knowledge of the immune system are allowing us to take the first steps towards preventing cancer.”

Foundation motivation: “When Diego and I founded CRIS we wanted to give a chance to survive to the many cancer patients that do not respond to the standard treatments.”

Common Success Themes

  • Strong translational component linking research to clinical outcomes
  • Focus on underserved patient populations
  • Innovative immunotherapy approaches
  • Paediatric cancer applications
  • Multi-disciplinary team approaches
  • Clear clinical trial pathways

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strategic alignment is critical: CRIS operates primarily through strategic planning rather than open calls. Understanding their annual priorities and establishing relationships before formal application improves success likelihood.
  • Translational potential matters most: Projects must demonstrate clear pathways to clinical application. Pure basic research without translational component unlikely to receive funding.
  • Focus on underserved areas: Emphasize if your research addresses cancer types with limited resources, pediatric populations, or patients not responding to standard treatments.
  • Partnership approach: CRIS values long-term institutional partnerships. Consider multi-year commitments and sustained collaboration rather than one-off projects.
  • Innovation with feasibility: Balance cutting-edge approaches with realistic implementation. CRIS evaluates both innovation potential and project feasibility.
  • Clinical trial readiness: Projects with clear clinical trial pathways or those supporting ongoing trials receive strong consideration. CRIS has facilitated over 100 clinical trials.
  • Early career support: Several programs specifically target emerging researchers. Early-career clinician-scientists should highlight training and career development plans.

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