Prostate Cancer Uk

Charity Number: 1005541

Annual Expenditure: £5.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Over £5 million annually (research investment)
  • Success Rate: 45% (Major Awards programme)
  • Decision Time: 9 months (typical full process)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £500,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK national

Contact Details

Website: www.prostatecanceruk.org

Email: info@prostatecanceruk.org

Phone: 020 3310 7000

Research Team: research@prostatecanceruk.org (for pre-application discussions)

Online Grant Portal: grants.prostatecanceruk.org

Overview

Founded as a UK charity (registration 1005541), Prostate Cancer UK is the country's leading charity for men with prostate cancer and prostate problems. Since inception, they have invested over £75 million in research, with cumulative investment exceeding £100 million in research, treatment, and care. The organization operates with the mission to stop prostate cancer being a killer by funding groundbreaking research, driving improvements in treatment, and fighting injustice in care. Their research funding processes are certified by the Association of Medical Research Charities as providing best practice in medical and health research peer review. Recent strategic developments include major investment in the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial, the largest prostate cancer screening trial in decades.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Research Innovation Awards: No financial restrictions - “apply for what you need” (rolling basis, online portal)
  • Career Acceleration Fellowships: Up to £350,000 over 3-4 years (fixed deadlines)
  • Programme Grants: Up to £500,000 over 4 years for large-scale research (fixed deadlines)
  • Educational Bursaries: Up to £5,000 for organizational training (rolling basis)
  • External Partnership Opportunities: £300,000-£500,000 over 3-5 years (partner-dependent)

Priority Areas

  • Groundbreaking discovery science in prostate cancer
  • Translational and clinical research
  • Projects addressing health inequity, particularly for Black men
  • Innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches
  • Real-world evidence studies
  • Research with clear patient benefit potential

What They Don't Fund

  • Full economic costs (fEC) - only directly incurred costs
  • Research not primarily focused on prostate cancer
  • Equipment unless absolutely necessary and pre-agreed
  • Indirect or infrastructure costs
  • Research conducted outside the UK (unless part of established UK collaboration)
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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Laura Kerby (appointed February 2022), bringing over 20 years of health and wellbeing leadership experience and previously CEO of two national cancer charities. Kerby states: “I passionately believe that working together, uniting the best science and clinical practice means that ultimately, we will be able to beat prostate cancer.”

Chair of Board: Doris Olulode, former HR Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ford Motor Company, with strong advocacy for equality, diversity and inclusion.

The organization maintains a Patient Representative Network providing lay input into research planning and delivery, ensuring patient perspectives inform funding decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications submitted via online CC Grant Tracker system. First-time applicants strongly advised to contact research team (research@prostatecanceruk.org) for pre-application discussions.

Decision Timeline

Two-stage process example (Research Innovation Awards):

  • Stage 1: Application deadline (e.g., October 14)
  • Review: Research Advisory Committee assessment (November)
  • Shortlist notification: Early January
  • Stage 2: Invited full applications
  • Final decision: Research Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees review (June)
  • Final notification: July
  • Total timeline: 9 months from initial deadline to final decision

Success Rates

45% success rate reported for Major Awards programme. All applicants receive detailed feedback regardless of outcome.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply - no explicit restrictions mentioned. Organization provides detailed feedback to support future applications.

Application Success Factors

Direct advice from the funder:

  • Contact research team before applying, especially for first-time applicants
  • Ensure strong patient and public involvement components
  • Focus on research with clear potential to impact diagnosis or treatment
  • Demonstrate innovation and boldness in approach

Recent funding examples: Investment in multiparametric MRI diagnostic improvements, precision medicine developments, and health equity research focusing on Black men's experiences.

Language and terminology: Use terms like “groundbreaking,” “transformational,” “innovative,” and emphasize “patient benefit” and “clinical impact.”

Standing out factors:

  • Clear articulation of how research addresses prostate cancer challenges
  • Strong methodology with appropriate patient involvement
  • Potential for real-world clinical application
  • Collaborative approaches welcomed

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application engagement is crucial - contact research team early for guidance
  • Patient involvement is essential - integrate meaningful PPI throughout the project
  • Focus on innovation and impact - demonstrate how research will change practice
  • Two-stage process requires patience - allow 9 months for full decision timeline
  • Feedback culture - detailed feedback provided to all applicants for future improvement
  • Partnership approach - collaborative research across institutions is welcomed
  • No funding caps on Innovation Awards - request what you genuinely need for the research

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