Biology to Prevention Award


Descriptions

Opportunity link:

Opportunity type:

Grant

Sponsor:

Cancer Research UK / National Cancer Institute

Award amount and duration:

Up to £600,000 for 5 years

Eligibility

Type:
Faculty, Postdocs

We welcome researchers from all career stages to apply. We are particularly keen for early-career researchers to apply as lead or joint lead applicants. In such cases, we strongly recommend including at least one established researcher as co-applicant for mentorship. 

We outline how we define career stages in our competency framework. 

Read the framework

Summary

Our Biology to Prevention Award supports projects harnessing biological and mechanistic insights to provide new targets and approaches for cancer primary prevention. Awards support translational research that advances our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying cancer aetiology, genesis, and risk, with the goal of developing precision prevention interventions. We will fund high quality, hypothesis-driven research with clear objectives and clear relevance to cancer prevention as outlined in our prevention research strategy. 

To apply, researchers must contact CRUK for an informal and confidential discussion of your proposal for us to determine your eligibility and discuss funding options.   

Please reach out at least one month before the submission deadline. You must also inform your host institution that you intend to apply, as they will need to approve your application online before you submit it to us. 

Email pprc@cancer.org.uk

Overhead

Host Institutions based outside the UK may use a portion of the Grant to cover Indirect Costs only if specified in the GAL or otherwise approved in writing by CRUK.


Deadlines

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

Date:
June 4, 2026 - 12:00 PM

RSO final internal review deadline

Date:
June 15, 2026 - 12:00 PM

Program application deadline

Date:
June 18, 2026 - 4:00 PM

Approvals

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

  • Principal Investigator
  • Department Head
  • Faculty ADR/Dean
  • Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.


Additional Information

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application


Contact Details


Keywords

Biomarkers and Surrogate Endpoints
Precision Prevention Strategies
Translational Prevention Research
Cancer Primary Prevention