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.
I have a long standing interest in researching diet, obesity, physical activity and cancer and am proud to be working on WCRF’s grant programme. Through this programme we are able to fund ground breaking research which is improving our understanding of the causes of cancer and helping people to live healthier lives after a cancer diagnosis.– Dr Helen Croker, Assistant Director of Research and Policy
Research areas
Cancer Prevention Research Area: research into the links relating diet, nutrition, body composition, and physical activity and primary prevention of cancer.
Cancer Survivors Research Area: focuses on individuals who have received a cancer diagnosis.
Research themes
Mechanisms Research Theme: applies to both Research Areas, and covers molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms that help explain the biological connection between relevant exposures and cancer development or progression.
Host Factors Research Theme: applies to both Research Areas and covers factors that might explain the variability between people in their susceptibility to cancer or the biological abnormalities predisposing to it. It also applies to the variability in outcomes after a cancer diagnosis, including in response to treatment.
Evidence for Impact in Cancer Survivors Theme: covers research into the role that diet, nutrition (including body composition) and physical activity can play in, for instance, reducing the side-effects of treatment, improving quality of life during and after the completion of treatment, reducing the risk of distant metastasis, second primaries and local cancer recurrence and ultimately prolonging survival.
I am extremely grateful to WCRF for funding my project which has provided important evidence on the role of overweight and/or obesity on cancer risk. As a young researcher, this project has provided me the opportunity to grow as a principal investigator, as well as the opportunity to learn and continue collaborating with a team of internationally recognised researchers as well as obtain additional funding to continue my research.” – Dr Talita Duarte Salles, grant holder
