World Cancer Research Fund: grants of up to GBP 500,000 for research on cancer prevention through nutrition and physical activity, LOI by 13 November

World Cancer Research Fund International has launched the 2026-27 Regular Grant Programme to support innovative, investigator-led research in oncology. Starting in autumn 2026, the organisation manages grant calls on behalf of its unified network, encompassing World Cancer Research Fund in the United Kingdom, Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds in the Netherlands, and the American Institute for Cancer Research in the United States.

The programme provides funding of up to GBP 500,000 for projects lasting up to 4 years, alongside separate pilot and feasibility opportunities. The primary objective is to investigate the influence of diet, nutrition, body composition, and physical activity on cancer prevention and cancer survivorship.

Applicants must submit an initial Letter of Intent (LOI) by 13 November 2026 at 5:00 PM GMT. Approved projects will be selected through a two-stage evaluation process, with final award determinations planned for late September 2027 following Board approval.

What is funded

The grant call funds innovative and original scientific research exploring the biological and behavioural roles of diet, nutrition, body composition, physical activity, and sleep in either cancer prevention or cancer survivorship. For this funding round, sleep is explicitly included as a primary exposure alongside traditional lifestyle factors.

Proposed investigations must address at least one of six designated strategic priority areas identified through the Global Cancer Update Programme. These priority areas include integrative oncology, exploring interventions delivered alongside conventional treatments, and lifestyle interactions with weight-loss medications, such as GLP-1 therapies. Complementary therapies lacking a rigorous scientific rationale or clear alignment with the funder’s remit are excluded from funding.

Who can apply

The competition is open to principal investigators based at higher education institutions and independent research institutes or organisations worldwide. Following the consolidation of grant management across UK, Dutch, and American partner entities, eligible institutions anywhere in the world may apply.

Applicants must represent established research environments capable of administering multi-year biomedical or epidemiological research awards. Research teams may submit multi-disciplinary proposals, provided the scientific justification and primary institutional accountability are clearly documented.

Conditions and requirements

Under the investigator-initiated track, grants provide financial support up to GBP 500,000 across a maximum duration of 4 years. All submitted proposals must demonstrate strong scientific quality, feasibility, clear public health or clinical impact, and rigorous methodology aligned with patient-relevant outcomes.

Research projects must directly address cancer incidence, risk biomarkers, treatment tolerance, toxicity, recurrence, physical function, or long-term quality of life. Proposals can span more than one priority area if scientifically justified, but the primary alignment must remain explicit throughout the application.

How to apply

Applications must be prepared and submitted via the Proposal Central online grant management platform. The initial stage requires a Letter of Intent submitted between 5 October 2026 and 13 November 2026 at 5:00 PM GMT. Outcomes of the LOI stage will be communicated to applicants in February 2027.

Practical tip. Ensure that your Proposal Central profile is configured well in advance and accessed via Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox, as the system is not optimised for Safari. Pay strict attention to system timestamps and US date formatting (MMDDYY) to avoid administrative errors before the final deadline.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: wcrf.org.