INSPIRE Research Challenge
As part of our continued commitment to accelerating progress, World Cancer Research Fund International has launched the INSPIRE Research Challenge, in partnership with American Institute for Cancer Research, World Cancer Research Fund in the UK and Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds in the Netherlands.
The INSPIRE Research Challenge grant round is now closed.
The INSPIRE Research Challenge will prioritise innovative, bold and creative proposals with the potential to catalyse rapid and impactful advances in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship.
This is a new grant call aimed at early career investigators. It will run in parallel with our existing grant programmes and is open to investigators worldwide.
Application criteria
The programme is open to early career researchers – defined as individuals who are within 2-6 years full-time equivalent (FTE) working in research since the award date of their PhD or equivalent higher research degree.
Eligible applicants must be employed on a research contract within a department at a university-affiliated research institution or a medical school conducting research.
Proposed projects must have direct relevance to cancer prevention, treatment or survivorship and may address any or all stages of the cancer journey.
Proposals should address modifiable factors including both lifestyle – such as diet, nutrition, physical activity – and environmental factors – such as pollution/contaminants and pathogens.
Particular priority will be given to novel exposures including stress, sleep and host factors such as immune function.
Grant application timeline
- Call opens (Letter of Intent): 9 September 2024
- Deadline for Letter of Intent: 17:00 BST on 1 October 2024
- Full application for shortlisted applicants opens: 6 January 2025
- Deadline for full applications: 5 February 2025
- Funding decisions announced: September 2025
For full details on the challenge and guidance on making an application, please read the following documents carefully:
- INSPIRE research brief and principles
- INSPIRE instructions for completing application forms and video interview brief
- INSPIRE Terms and Conditions for grant holders
How to apply
Applications must be made using our Grants Management System. Once registered with the system, you will have access to the application forms for open grant rounds. You will find instructions on how to complete the applications in the instructions PDFs listed above. Ensure you carefully read through the instructions and the guidelines.
For any questions regarding the INSPIRE Research Challenge, please e-mail inspire@wcrf.org.
> View the Inspire Research Challenge FAQs
> Who’s on the Inspire Research Challenge panel?
