More Research, Less Cancer – our ambitious campaign calling on philanthropists to help tackle cancer - Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK has today launched More Research, Less Cancer. The campaign calls on high-value donors and philanthropists to raise £400m to tackle the disease, making it the largest ever philanthropic campaign by a UK charity.

Cancer Research UK has warned that the number of global cancer cases are predicted to increase by around 50% by 2040.*

Domestically, 110,000 deaths could be avoided over the next two decades, if UK cancer mortality rates are reduced by 15% by 2040.

“We stand on the brink of discoveries that will transform how we understand and treat cancer,” says Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK.

“These discoveries, that the research and scientific community are on the cusp of, have the potential to save and improve countless lives. But investment is needed.

“We need people with the means and vision to help us bring about a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. “

That’s why we’ve launched our new campaign today. Because more support means more research, and more research means less cancer.

- Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK

The money raised by the campaign will focus on work at the Francis Crick Institute, support Cancer Grand Challenges, support scientists at every stage of their careers and enable more innovation that translates into effective therapies and diagnostics for patients.

A funding gap

Cancer Research UK’s recent report Longer, Better Lives: A Manifesto for Cancer Research and Care said that urgent action was required to address a more than £1 billion funding gap for research into cancer over the next decade. The report said that excluding research funded by industry, charities fund 62% of cancer research, compared to government’s 38%.

Through the More Research, Less Cancer campaign, Cancer Research UK is looking to partner with philanthropists to support transformational research.

The campaign has already seen significant investment from philanthropic donations, including generous support from The Chris Banton Foundation and The Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust.

The More Research, Less Cancer campaign film can be seen below. Introduced by BBC journalist Victoria Derbyshire, the inspiring film brings together key figures in the cancer research community, united by their passion to progress life-saving research.

‘Letter to the World’

To mark the launch, Cancer Research UK has joined forces with a coalition of the world’s most renowned voices in the research community to pen a ‘Letter to the World’, calling on high-value donors and philanthropists to help tackle the disease.

Read the letter here.