Prevent Breast Cancer

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,300,000 (charitable activities expenditure 2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Announced in June following annual application round
• Grant Range: Under £10,000 - Over £30,000 (tiered review process)
• Geographic Focus: UK-based researchers (research can be international)
• Total Assets: £1.47m income, £1.59m expenditure (2023-24)

Contact Details

Address: Prevent Breast Cancer, The Nightingale Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT

Phone: 0161 291 4400

Email: info@preventbreastcancer.org.uk (general enquiries) | nikki@preventbreastcancer.org.uk (Chief Executive)

Website: www.preventbreastcancer.org.uk

Pre-application Support: Contact the team on the numbers above for questions regarding the application process

Overview

Prevent Breast Cancer is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer. Founded in 1997, the charity has awarded over £5.1 million to breast cancer prevention research since inception. Based at The Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester—Europe's first purpose-built breast cancer prevention centre—the charity focuses on funding ground-breaking research rather than treatment. The organization raised £2 million towards the construction of The Nightingale Centre, which opened in 2007, and has since contributed a further £2.45 million to its Prevention Clinic work. The charity is currently partnering with Manchester Foundation Trust Charity on a £3.5 million “Build To Beat Breast Cancer” appeal to establish the UK's first National Breast Imaging Academy. Co-founder Lester Barr MBE was awarded an MBE in October 2021 for his pioneering work in breast cancer prevention.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Prevent Breast Cancer operates one annual grant round with applications reviewed by their Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and external referees, with final decisions made by trustees. The review process is tiered based on funding amount:

• Under £10,000: Reviewed by one SAB member, decision by Board of Trustees
• £10,000 - £30,000: Reviewed by three SAB members, decision by Board of Trustees
• Over £30,000: External peer review by two independent reviewers who provide feedback and scoring, with final decision by Board of Trustees

Applications are accepted on a rolling annual basis when the funding round is open. Recent rounds have announced decisions in June.

Priority Areas - Four Research Pillars

All funded research must align with at least one of the charity's four pillars of prevention-focused research:

1. Gene Research: Investigating how changes and mutations in genes affect breast cancer risk, including SNP research and genetic prediction models

1. Improved Screening & Early Diagnosis: Identifying new and unique screening methods for early and accurate diagnoses, including mammographic breast density research and risk prediction tools like PROCAS (Predicting Risk of Cancer at Screening)

1. Preventative Drugs: Developing preventative medications for appropriate patients, including research on tamoxifen dosing schedules and other chemoprevention strategies

1. Diet & Lifestyle: Offering diet and lifestyle interventions for those deemed high-risk, including weight loss research, processed food studies, and total diet replacement trials for high-risk young women with obesity

What They Don't Fund

• Treatment-focused research (they fund prevention only)
• Research not aligned with their four pillars
• Non-UK based lead applicants (though research can take place internationally if the lead applicant's host institution is UK-based)

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Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Nikki Barraclough - Chief Executive

Eamonn O'Neal OBE - Chair of Trustees. Long-time charity sector professional with extensive broadcasting and governance experience, formerly managing editor of The Manchester Evening News and head of regional programmes for ITV Granada.

Co-Founders

Lester Barr MBE - Co-Founder, Consultant Breast Surgeon & Honorary President. Awarded MBE in October 2021 for his pioneering work at The Nightingale Centre, Europe's first purpose-built breast cancer prevention centre.

Pam Glass - Co-Founder & Vice President, Trustee since 1996. Played a vital role in raising £2 million toward The Nightingale Centre.

Trustees

• Mark Sellers - Treasurer, experienced chartered accountant
• Christine Lee-Jones - Former Head Mistress of Manchester High School for Girls; trustee since 2012
• Diana Harris - Over 25 years marketing and innovation experience; appointed 2014
• Jane Humphris - Academic in Social Sciences; joined 2022
• Sandra Saleh - Former intensive care nurse with 45+ years healthcare experience; joined 2020
• Paul Topham - Joined 2024 following personal loss to breast cancer
• Tammy Hopla - Trustee since 2022; underwent preventative surgery due to familial breast cancer risk

Research Leadership

Professor Anthony Howell - Professor of Medical Oncology; leads Prevent Breast Cancer Research Programme. Has been involved in landmark research on preventative drugs including tamoxifen since 1971.

Professor Gareth Evans - Professor of Medical Genetics; research on SNPs and breast cancer risk prediction.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted from UK-based researchers only. While research can take place internationally, the lead applicant's host institution must be UK-based. The charity operates one annual funding round.

Applications must focus on breast cancer prevention aligned with one or more of their four research pillars. When the funding round is open, application details are available on their website.

Decision Timeline

Decisions are announced in June following each annual application round. Applicants are informed of the outcome once the Board of Trustees makes their final decision.

The review process includes:

1. Internal SAB review (or external peer review for grants over £30,000)
2. External reviewers provide feedback and scoring based on relevance, feasibility, and potential impact (for larger grants)
3. Board of Trustees makes final funding decision

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the charity has funded numerous projects since 1997, with over £5.1 million awarded in total. Scientists associated with the charity have published over 200 peer-reviewed research papers between August 2015 and July 2022.

Reapplication Policy

The charity's policy on unsuccessful applicants reapplying is not explicitly stated on their website. Prospective applicants should contact the team directly to discuss reapplication if their initial application is unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Focus

The charity often seed-funds new ideas in breast cancer prediction and prevention. As stated on their website: “We often seed-fund new ideas researching into the prediction and prevention of breast cancer – without our original funding these research projects would not happen. Furthermore once these pilot projects have been undertaken, they can often support large grant applications to organisations such as The National Institute of Health Research.”

This suggests they are particularly interested in:

• Innovative pilot projects that can generate preliminary data
• Early-stage research that can lead to larger funding opportunities
• Projects with growth potential that can attract additional funding from major funders

Recently Funded Research Examples

Examples of projects funded by Prevent Breast Cancer include:

• PROCAS (Predicting Risk of Cancer at Screening): Launched in 2009 with 57,000 women, enhancing risk prediction using saliva DNA tests and breast density estimation in NHS National Breast Screening Programme. A £100,000 award supported PROCAS-2 led by Dr. Sacha Howell.

• Weight Loss and Breast Cancer Risk: Professor Michelle Harvie demonstrated that weight loss can reduce breast cancer risk. A randomized trial of total diet replacement in high-risk young women with obesity showed that weight loss reduces activity of cells that form aggressive breast cancers.

• Processed Food Research: Michelle Harvie's research examining links between processed food consumption and breast cancer risk.

• Preventative Drug Research: Studies on tamoxifen dosing schedules and exemestane to improve breast cancer chemoprevention strategies (Dr. Andrea De Censi).

Language and Terminology

The charity uses consistent language around:

• “Predict, Prevent, Protect” - their core mission statement
• Focus on “prevention” not “cure”
• “Future generations” - emphasis on long-term impact
• “Ground-breaking research” - they value innovation
• “High-risk women” - targeting interventions at those who need them most

Key Application Tips

1. Alignment with Research Pillars: Clearly demonstrate how your project fits within one or more of the four research pillars
2. Prevention Focus: Emphasize prevention rather than treatment outcomes
3. Feasibility and Impact: For grants over £30,000, external reviewers specifically assess relevance, feasibility, and potential impact
4. Pilot Project Potential: Consider how your research could generate data for larger grant applications
5. Partnership with NIHR: The charity is a non-commercial partner of the National Institute of Health Research, suggesting value placed on research that aligns with NHS priorities
6. UK Clinical Relevance: Research should have clear relevance to UK populations and NHS screening/clinical pathways

Contact for Guidance

For questions regarding the application process: 0161 291 4400 or info@preventbreastcancer.org.uk

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Unique Positioning: This is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to breast cancer prediction and prevention, making them highly specialized and focused
• Seed Funding Opportunity: They explicitly welcome pilot projects that can generate preliminary data for larger grant applications—ideal for early-career researchers or novel approaches
• Clear Alignment Required: Your project must clearly fit within at least one of their four research pillars (gene research, screening/early diagnosis, preventative drugs, or diet/lifestyle)
• Partnership Approach: Strong relationship with NIHR and NHS suggests they value research with clear clinical translation potential
• Tiered Review Process: Understand which review tier applies to your funding request and prepare accordingly (smaller grants have faster review, larger grants require more rigorous external peer review)
• Annual Cycle: Plan ahead—there is only one funding round per year with decisions announced in June
• UK-Based Lead Required: International research is possible, but the lead applicant must be based at a UK institution
• Impact Focus: With over 200 peer-reviewed papers published by their funded researchers (2015-2022), they value research that leads to academic output and real-world impact

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• NPT Transatlantic Limited
• Alzheimer's Research UK
• The Brain Tumour Charity
• The Cure Parkinson's Trust
• BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
• The National Churches Trust
• Bone Cancer Research Trust
• Forever Manchester
• WELLBEING OF WOMEN
• Churches Conservation
• Classics For All
• STREET CHILD
• LOCAL TRUST
• TATE FOUNDATION
• JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION LIMITED
• THE RIVERS TRUST
• ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA APPEAL LIMITED
• RENEWABLE WORLD
• IMPACT FOUNDATION
• THE ROYAL NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL CHARITY

References

1. Prevent Breast Cancer official website - Applying for Research Grant. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/breast-cancer-research/applying-for-research-grant/

1. Prevent Breast Cancer - About Our Research. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/what-we-do/about-our-research/

1. Prevent Breast Cancer - Our People. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/who-we-are/our-people/

1. UK Charity Commission - Prevent Breast Cancer (Charity No. 1109839). Financial information for year ending 31 March 2024. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4011866

1. Prevent Breast Cancer - The Nightingale Centre. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/who-we-are/the-nightingale-centre/

1. Prevent Breast Cancer - In Consultation with Michelle Harvie. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/michelle-harvie/

1. Prevent Breast Cancer - National Breast Imaging Academy. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/who-we-are/national-breast-imaging-academy/

1. Manchester Foundation Trust Charity - Build to Beat Breast Cancer Appeal. Available at: https://mftcharity.org.uk/campaigns/build-to-beat-breast-cancer/

1. Prevent Breast Cancer - A Message from Lester Barr. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/a-message-from-lester-barr-our-founder/

1. Prevent Breast Cancer - Research Projects. Available at: https://preventbreastcancer.org.uk/what-we-do/research-projects/