Kidscan Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £294,285 (2023)
• Annual Expenditure: £232,076 (2023)
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £75,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with partnership focus on North West England and North Wales
• Application Method: Email applications with downloadable forms (currently closed)

Contact Details

Website: www.kidscan.org.uk

Email: info@kidscan.org.uk

Phone: 0161 295 3864

Address: Alumni House, Acton Square, Salford, Greater Manchester M5 4NY

Research Grant Enquiries:

• Scientific Director: Dr David Pye
• Email: d.pye@kidscan.org.uk
• Phone: 0161 295 4701

Overview

KIDSCAN LIMITED (registered charity 1094946) was established to raise funds primarily for research into the causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure of cancer in children. Based at the University of Salford, KIDSCAN is described as "the only research facility in the UK dedicated to researching cures for children's cancer." The charity receives no statutory funding and relies entirely on contributions from the public, volunteers, businesses, and fundraising events. To date, KIDSCAN has invested over a million pounds in childhood cancer research at respected institutions across the UK. The organization's primary method of operation is grant making, supporting researchers who are dedicated to beating childhood cancer through various funding mechanisms from student placements to full PhD studentships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

PhD Studentship Grants: Up to £65,000 over three years (£71,000 for London-based applications with £2,000 annual weighting uplift)

• Funding includes stipend (£15,000-£16,000), bench fees, and conference attendance fees
• Supports PhD students exploring research related to diagnosis, causes, treatment, and well-being of children and young adults with cancer
• Applications made by prospective supervisors via email to d.pye@kidscan.org.uk
• Current Status: Applications closed

Student Placement Programme Grants: Up to £2,000 per grant

• Awards made to supervisors in academia or industry
• Takes the form of bench fees to support a student's laboratory work
• KIDSCAN awards up to seven grants annually through this program
• Applications via email to d.pye@salford.ac.uk
• Most recent information references 2023-24 academic year

NWCR-KIDSCAN Partnership PhD Studentship: Up to £75,000 over three years

• Joint funding with North West Cancer Research
• Focused on childhood cancer research benefiting North West England and North Wales
• Particular interest in medulloblastoma research
• Most recent deadline: July 4, 2022 (applications currently closed)

Priority Areas

Primary Research Focus:

• Children's cancer research across all types
• Particular interest in medulloblastoma
• Improving existing treatments
• Developing new drug delivery systems
• Finding next generation targeted treatments
• Reducing or eliminating late effects of current treatments
• Increasing survival rates

Key Objectives: Applications should focus on improving outcomes for children with cancer, from increasing survival rates to reducing or eliminating the late effects that current treatments cause. For cancer types other than medulloblastoma, applications should demonstrate how the project could be relevant to medulloblastoma treatment improvements.

What They Don't Fund

Information not explicitly available in public sources. As a research-focused charity specifically dedicated to children's cancer, funding is restricted to this specific area.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of August 1, 2025)

Michael FitzGerald Carter - Trustee

• Also serves as trustee for North West Cancer Research and Cancer and Polio Research Fund Limited

Alastair David Richards - Trustee

• Also serves on Care Housing Association

Paul Edward Moonan - Trustee

All three trustees were appointed on August 1, 2025. Per charity guidelines, no trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Personnel

Dr David Pye CSci CBiol FRSB FIBMS FRSC - Scientific Director

• Head of Chemical Sciences at University of Salford
• Reader in Biochemistry
• Previously served as chair of the Biochemical Society's Policy Committee
• Contact: d.pye@kidscan.org.uk or 0161 295 4701

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

PhD Studentship Grants:

• Applications made by the prospective supervisor (not the student)
• Download and complete the application form from the KIDSCAN website
• Read Research Objectives and Grant Handbook before applying
• Submit application via email to d.pye@kidscan.org.uk
• Current Status: Applications now closed

Student Placement Grants:

• Download and complete the application form
• Submit to d.pye@salford.ac.uk
• Current Status: Information references 2023-24 academic year; current status unclear

NWCR-KIDSCAN Partnership:

• Completed application form required
• Application guidance document and Appendix A (if required)
• Contact research@nwcr.org or 0151 709 2919 for preliminary discussions about project fit
• Most recent deadline: July 4, 2022 (has passed)

Decision Timeline

Review Process: All applications undergo thorough scientific peer review using independent reviewers. Reviewers' reports and application forms are then considered for funding by KIDSCAN's Scientific Committee (for KIDSCAN-only grants) or undergo rigorous external peer and scientific review (for NWCR-KIDSCAN partnership).

Specific timelines from submission to decision are not publicly documented.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. KIDSCAN awards up to seven Student Placement Grants annually. The number of PhD Studentships awarded varies by year and available funding.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented in publicly available sources. Contact the Scientific Director for guidance on resubmission after unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

Based on Documented Priorities:

1. Alignment with Research Objectives: Before applying for PhD Studentship Grants, applicants are explicitly instructed to read KIDSCAN's Research Objectives and Grant Handbook to ensure applications fall within the goals of their research.

1. Relevance to Medulloblastoma: For the NWCR-KIDSCAN partnership, while the call is open to other cancer types, applications should demonstrate relevance to medulloblastoma treatment. For example, proposals might show how the project could improve treatments used in medulloblastoma to increase efficacy or reduce late effects.

1. Focus on Outcomes: Applications should clearly focus on “improving outcomes for children with cancer” - either increasing survival rates or reducing/eliminating late effects of current treatments.

1. Preliminary Discussions Welcome: For the NWCR-KIDSCAN partnership, the organizations explicitly welcome preliminary discussions about how proposed projects fit funding criteria before submission.

1. Strong Academic Foundation: KIDSCAN has a close partnership with the University of Salford through their 'Pathways to Excellence' programme, and several KIDSCAN-funded researchers are based there, including Dr Arijit Mukhopadhyay (Reader in Human Genetics), Dr Steven Rossington (Lecturer in Organic Chemistry), Dr Sarah Withers (Lecturer in Biomedicine), and Dr Rosa Arrigo (Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry).

1. Target Innovative Treatments: According to Dr. David Pye, “As a charity, Kidscan has much more freedom than drug companies to pursue the discovery and development of new cancer drugs aimed squarely at childhood cancer.” Applications exploring innovative or unconventional approaches may align well with this mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Applications Currently Closed: As of the most recent public information, KIDSCAN's grant applications are closed. Contact the Scientific Director (d.pye@kidscan.org.uk) for information about future funding rounds.

• Read Guidelines First: KIDSCAN explicitly requires applicants to read their Research Objectives and Grant Handbook before applying - this is critical to ensure alignment.

• Supervisor Applications: For PhD Studentships, applications must be submitted by the prospective supervisor, not the student themselves.

• Strong University of Salford Connection: The charity has a close partnership with the University of Salford and has funded multiple researchers there. While not a requirement, this connection suggests familiarity with the institution's research environment.

• Medulloblastoma Priority: While not exclusive, medulloblastoma research is a particular interest, especially for partnership funding with North West Cancer Research.

• Scientific Rigor Required: All applications undergo thorough scientific peer review, so strong methodological design and clear scientific rationale are essential.

• Contact Before Applying: Preliminary discussions are welcomed to ensure project fit - use this opportunity to strengthen your application before submission.

References

• KIDSCAN LIMITED - Charity Commission Full Print
• KIDSCAN LIMITED - Charity Commission Overview
• KIDSCAN Homepage
• PhD Studentship Grants - KIDSCAN
• Student Placement Grant - KIDSCAN
• KIDSCAN Trustees Page
• NWCR-KIDSCAN PhD Studentship
• David Pye - University of Salford Profile
• Dr Lucy Smyth's KIDSCAN Funded Research
• KIDSCAN Awards £40,000 to Local Scientist - University of Salford
• KIDSCAN - Association of Medical Research Charities

All sources.