At World Cancer Research Fund, we fund research that looks at the effects of diet, weight, nutrition and physical activity on cancer prevention
To help us achieve our mission of living in a world where no one develops a preventable cancer, World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) funds research into cancer prevention and survival through lifestyle.
Our grant programme has been running since 1991. In that time we have funded more than £120 million of research, and have had a real impact on preventing cancer and improving the lives of cancer survivors.
Global research expertise
Our grant programme accepts applications from anywhere in the world except the Americas (North America, Central America including the Caribbean, and South America), which has its own programme.
We receive no funding from any government for this research. In fact, the majority of our money comes from public donations via our network of cancer prevention charities: World Cancer Research Fund in the UK and Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds in the Netherlands. WCRF International manages these funds and allocates them to research projects.
Our funded research contributes to a better understanding of the role of diet, nutrition and physical activity in cancer. I feel honoured to work with some of the top scientists in the field from all over the world, whose projects have a significant impact on preventing cancer and improving outcomes in cancer survivors, making ultimately a difference to people’s lives. – Ifigeneia Bourgiezi, Senior Research Funding Manager
Research themes
We are focusing on two main themes:
Identifying the mechanisms that underpin the effects of diet, nutrition and physical activity on cancer.
Addressing the host factors that influence an individual’s susceptibility to cancer development or progression.
For cancer survivors, we also encourage broader research into:
evidence for impact of diet
nutrition (including body composition)
physical activity
outcomes after cancer diagnosis, as robust evidence on this is lacking
This is one of the few funding programmes that supports large-scale research into lifestyle, diet and metabolic risk factors for cancer development.
In my opinion, WCRF’s courage in supporting innovative, high-level research into such topics will result in more effective public health policies and measures for cancer prevention and control. – Dr Mazda Jenab, grant holder
