Facts and figures about our research funding
In the financial year 2019/20 we funded research worth £455m.
We fund research through a variety of mechanisms, from supporting infrastructure, including our 4 world-class research institutes, to providing grants for investigator-led programmes, projects and training fellowships.
Our funding spans the research pipeline, and our diverse portfolio includes research into almost every aspect of cancer. In 2019/20 it included £86m into the fundamental biology of cancer, and £81m on research that underpins all cancers, including our network of centres and clinical trial units.
Here you can explore in more detail how and where we fund research, and how your own work fits in.
Since 2018/19, we report research support costs and the share of royalty income we pass on to other research organisations (‘revenue share’) separately in our breakdown of annual research activity. This explains why spending on certain cancer types may appear lower than in previous years.
Funding by disease type
Our network
Our long-term investment in state-of-the-art facilities has helped to create a thriving network of research at 90 institutions in more than 40 towns and cities across the UK.
Our network includes Centres of Excellence to drive progress in priority areas such as brain tumours and lung cancer, CRUK RadNet to develop the UK’s radiobiology and radiooncology community, and much more.
Funding across the research pipeline
Related stories
COVID-19: Open letter to cancer researchers
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has had a profound effect on all facets of public and private life. Executive Director of Research & Innovation, Iain Foulkes, our Chief Scientist, Professor Karen Vousden, and our Chief Clinician, Professor Charles Swanton, talk about how we’re responding to the global pandemic.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): information for grant applicants and grantholders
If you’re a researcher or student funded by us, we understand that the last few months have been a period of significant disruption and anxiety for you and your teams. We outline the ways we can support you through this time and help to minimise the impact on your research activities.
Leading cancer research through a pandemic and beyond
8 cancer research leaders tell us about the choices they’ve made during the COVID-19 pandemic and their outlook on the future.