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Cancer Grand Challenges
A Cancer Research UK and US National Cancer Institute partnership that gives up to £20 million to global teams to tackle a named cancer problem no single lab could solve.
Overview
Launched by Cancer Research UK in 2015 as Grand Challenge and relaunched with the NCI in 2020, Cancer Grand Challenges sets a series of open challenges, from mapping tumours at single-cell resolution to understanding cachexia, extrachromosomal DNA, early-onset colorectal cancer and the causes of cancers in never-smokers, and funds interdisciplinary international teams for five years. Funded teams include Mutographs (mutational signatures of exposures), eDyNAmiC (extrachromosomal DNA), CANCAN (cachexia), PROSPECT and SAMBAI. Patient advocates sit in every team and challenges are set with input from the global community. The programme is a model for goal-directed, cross-border funding.
Location
London, GB
Type
consortium
Website
Newsweek 2026 oncology rank
Not in top 300 listing used
OnCo score
#412 · 12 points (0 Newsweek + 0 NCI + 12 from 6 linked objects) · ranking
- Challenge-setting and team awards (up to £20 million)
- Funded teams: Mutographs, eDyNAmiC, CANCAN, PROSPECT, SAMBAI
- Patient advocacy in every team
Charles Swanton
Deputy Clinical Director, Francis Crick Institute; Chief Clinician, Cancer Research UK
Tumour evolutionLung cancerCirculating tumour DNA
Leads TRACERx, the study that follows lung cancers as they evolve, and showed how air pollution can trigger lung cancer without new mutations.
Michelle Mitchell
Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK
Charity leadershipResearch funding strategyCancer policy
Michelle Mitchell is chief executive of the world's largest independent cancer research charity.
Iain Foulkes
Executive Director of Research and Innovation, Cancer Research UK
Research strategyTranslational fundingInnovation partnerships
Iain Foulkes directs the research portfolio of Cancer Research UK.
Douglas R. Lowy
Principal Deputy Director, National Cancer Institute
HPV biologyVaccine developmentCancer prevention
Co-developed the HPV vaccine technology that is eliminating cervical cancer in vaccinated populations.
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