The John Black Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1143431

Annual Expenditure: £5.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5,615,395 (2024)
  • Total Assets: £77.3 million
  • Grant Range: Varies by program - typically £100,000-£500,000+ per project
  • Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and international research institutions
  • Established: 2011
  • Application Method: No public application process - strategic partnerships only

Contact Details

Registered Address:

24 Old Burlington Street

London, W1S 3AW

Charity Number: 1143431

Company Number: 07734413

Note: The foundation does not operate a public application process. Contact details are provided for informational purposes only.

Overview

The John Black Charitable Foundation was established in August 2011 through the will of the late John Black to promote quality research in prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease. With total assets of £77.3 million and annual expenditure exceeding £5.6 million (2024), the foundation operates as a strategic funding partner to major medical research organizations rather than accepting direct applications. The foundation works exclusively through established research partners including the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), Cure Parkinson's, and the Van Andel Institute, supporting cutting-edge clinical trials and research programs at leading institutions worldwide. This strategic approach allows the foundation to leverage the expertise and competitive grant processes of its partner organizations to identify and fund the most promising research projects.

Funding Priorities

Strategic Partnership Programs

Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Partnership

  • John Black Charitable Foundation-PCF Challenge Awards: Support for multi-institutional, cross-disciplinary research teams conducting innovative research into advanced prostate cancer treatments
  • John Black Charitable Foundation-PCF Young Investigator Awards: Support for early-career researchers studying prostate cancer

Recent examples include:

  • 2024: Research on mRNA translation therapeutic strategies (Institute of Cancer Research, London & Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center)
  • 2024: Investigating anti-diabetic/obesity drug repurposing for prostate cancer
  • 2023: Metabolic imaging and radionuclide combination treatment (University of Oxford)
  • 2021: Biomarker profiling using AI-based approaches
  • 2020: Targeting host microbiota to reverse therapeutic resistance

Parkinson's Disease Research Partnership

  • International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) Program: Three-year commitment (2020-2023) of $6.75 million alongside Cure Parkinson's and Van Andel Institute
  • Ambroxol Research: Co-funding of £522,000 ($679,000) for phase III trial development

UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI)

  • Listed as a partner organization, though specific funding details not publicly disclosed

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Prostate cancer research, particularly advanced and treatment-resistant disease
  • Parkinson's disease research, with emphasis on disease-modifying therapies
  • Clinical trials of repurposed medications (drugs originally developed for other conditions)
  • Translational research bridging laboratory discoveries to clinical applications

Research Characteristics They Support:

  • Multi-institutional collaborative projects
  • International research partnerships
  • Novel therapeutic strategies with transformative potential
  • Early-career researcher development
  • Expert-vetted, peer-reviewed research programs

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct applications from individual organizations or researchers
  • Projects outside of prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease (though charitable objects permit broader health-related funding at trustee discretion)
  • Service delivery, advocacy, or patient support programs
  • Infrastructure or capital projects
  • General operating expenses of organizations
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Governance and Leadership

Trustee/Director:

  • David A. Taglight, Chairman (serving since August 2011)
  • Also serves as Board Member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation
  • Has overseen the foundation's strategic partnership approach since inception

Organizational Structure:

  • 2 trustees
  • 3 employees
  • Private company limited by guarantee
  • Some trustees receive payments for services rendered

The foundation operates with a lean governance structure, allowing it to efficiently deploy resources through its strategic partners while maintaining oversight of its £77.3 million asset base.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The John Black Charitable Foundation operates exclusively through strategic partnerships with established research organizations. Individual researchers, universities, or charities cannot apply directly to the foundation for funding.

How Grants Are Awarded:

The foundation makes multi-year commitments to partner organizations (Prostate Cancer Foundation, Cure Parkinson's, Van Andel Institute) who then:

  1. Identify research priorities through expert committees
  2. Issue their own calls for applications
  3. Conduct rigorous peer review processes
  4. Select recipients for foundation-funded awards bearing the John Black Charitable Foundation name

For example, the Prostate Cancer Foundation's annual Challenge Awards and Young Investigator Awards include specific John Black Charitable Foundation-funded awards. Researchers apply through PCF's competitive process, and the foundation's partnership funding supports selected projects.

Getting on Their Radar

PCF Partnership Applications:

Researchers working on prostate cancer can apply through the Prostate Cancer Foundation's annual grant programs. Some awards are specifically designated as “John Black Charitable Foundation-PCF” awards. Visit www.pcf.org for application information.

Cure Parkinson's Partnership:

The foundation's iLCT partnership supports clinical trials selected by a committee of world-leading Parkinson's experts. Researchers can learn about iLCT opportunities through Cure Parkinson's at cureparkinsons.org.uk.

Board Connections:

David Taglight serves on both the John Black Charitable Foundation board and the Prostate Cancer Foundation board, suggesting potential influence through PCF engagement.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept direct applications, success factors relate to accessing funding through partner organizations:

For Researchers Seeking PCF-Funded Awards:

Research Excellence Requirements:

  • The Prostate Cancer Foundation seeks “highly innovative research with the greatest potential for accelerating new and improved treatments for advanced prostate cancer”
  • Emphasis on multi-institutional, cross-disciplinary teams for Challenge Awards
  • Strong track record or promising trajectory for Young Investigator Awards

Strategic Alignment:

  • Focus on therapeutic development, particularly for advanced/metastatic disease
  • Interest in novel approaches including drug repurposing (2024 award on anti-diabetic drugs for prostate cancer)
  • Translational research that bridges discovery to clinical application (2023 award on metabolic imaging and treatment)
  • Molecular understanding of disease subtypes (2024 award on mRNA translation)

Recent Funded Examples:

  • Novel therapeutic strategies targeting specific molecular mechanisms
  • Combination treatment approaches (radionuclide therapy + metabolic targeting)
  • AI-based biomarker identification
  • Microbiome interventions to overcome treatment resistance

For Parkinson's Research:

iLCT Program Focus:

  • Disease-modifying therapies (not symptomatic treatments)
  • Repurposed medications with existing safety profiles
  • Clinical trial-ready research
  • Vetted by expert committee of leading Parkinson's researchers

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not accessible for direct applications: This foundation cannot be approached directly by charities or research institutions. It operates only through strategic partnerships.
  • Partner organization route: Researchers working on prostate cancer or Parkinson's disease should pursue funding through the Prostate Cancer Foundation or Cure Parkinson's competitive grant programs.
  • Substantial funding capacity: With £77.3 million in assets and £5.6 million annual expenditure, the foundation is a significant funder, but resources are channeled exclusively through partners.
  • Research focus: 100% focused on medical research for prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease—not patient services, advocacy, or other charitable activities.
  • Strategic partnership model: The foundation takes a hands-off approach, leveraging partner organizations' expertise in grant-making rather than building its own application infrastructure.
  • International reach: Despite being UK-based, the foundation funds research at international institutions including US-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
  • Long-term commitments: The foundation makes multi-year partnership commitments (e.g., 3-year, $6.75M iLCT partnership) rather than annual grants.

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