Research FAQ

Background

Research aims

• We want to understand more about why children develop cancer, to find explanations for the increase in risk and to establish whether prevention is a possibility
• We want to drive forward the development of novel approaches to diagnosis, identification of markers of likely outcome and improved treatments for childhood cancer in order to tackle those forms which still elude successful treatment and to minimise the risk of adverse, treatment-related effects
• We want to understand more about the long-term risks faced by childhood cancer survivors, of whom there are now more than 30,000 in the UK.

Our research strategy sets out the key areas of research we have decided we need to focus on.

Grant applications are invited via our different funding streams such as our Brain Tumour Initiative, Fellowships etc. These applications are rigorously assessed by members of our Scientific Advisory Panel with the assistance of expert external reviewers from around the world.

Children with Cancer UK is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). The AMRC sets minimum standards of good practice to which member charities must adhere in their grant-making, including policies on peer review.

We keep in touch with grant-holders during the period of their grant to monitor their progress and keep track of findings.

Under our terms and conditions of funding, all grant-holders must provide annual reports on the progress of their project and a final report at the end of the grant.

We endeavour to visit each project at least once during the course of the grant – to meet the research team, inspect the research facilities and check on the progress of the work.

We place great importance on the dissemination of results, so that those working in the field can learn from other people’s research.

We closely monitor the progress of the projects we fund and encourage scientists to publish the results of their work where possible.

We provide additional funding for researchers to travel to conferences and meetings to present their work and discuss their findings.

We also host conferences and scientific workshops to bring together those engaged in childhood cancer research. In February 2016, we held a specialist workshop on drug delivery in childhood brain tumours; in September 2016 we are hosting our fourth international conference Childhood Cancer 2016, where a number of our grant-holders will present results from their research.