Seizing the moment – 5 steps the Government must take to help UK cancer research thrive

This is a pivotal moment for cancer research and the wider UK research and development (R&D) environment. In the next few weeks and months, the Government will set the direction of UK R&D for years to come, with a Comprehensive Spending Review, NHS 10 Year Plan, National Cancer Plan, Industrial Strategy, and Life Sciences Sector Plan all hotly anticipated.  

Now, building on insights from our research community, we’re outlining five steps the Government must take across these strategies and plans to strengthen cancer research, and the wider ecosystem it sits within, to continue delivering life-saving tests and treatments. 

1. Connect the dots to deliver for the whole life sciences sector  

In setting out a series of ambitions, plans and strategies, the Government is taking a positive first step towards the vision UK cancer research needs.  

We have heard a lot of ambition from the Government. However, without a coordinated, whole-system approach across the plans and strategies, matched by clear leadership and accountability, the full potential of this moment may not be realised. 

• A 10 Year Health Plan that does not align with the Life Sciences Sector Plan – and vice versa – will struggle to account for the full breadth of research and innovation across the UK. And the vital cancer research-focused action we hope to see in the National Cancer Plan must align with the broader systemic changes in the other plans.
• As well as securing the future for commercial R&D, the UK’s discovery research system, and the university system in which much of it takes place, must not be overlooked. Securing the financial sustainability of UK universities is essential, and Departments across Government must work together to make this happen. 
• The need for a joined-up approach is again highlighted when looking at the complex process of translating research from the lab bench to the patient bedside. This demands a clear strategy, backed by the right infrastructure, workforce, and regulation, linking through the Industrial Strategy, the Life Sciences Sector Plan and 10 Year Health Plan.
• The upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review will shape the future of UK science policy. If budgets are squeezed, the impact will be felt across the research ecosystem.

2. Build a research and innovation–powered NHS  

Politicians often praise the NHS’s enormous potential to drive research and innovation. Nowhere is this more true than for cancer – whether through life-saving clinical trials or the use of routinely collected health data to help transform how we prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. But much of that potential remains unrealised. 

Many NHS staff struggle to find time for research, and clinical trial setup remains slow and overly complex. The Government now has a chance to change this. The upcoming plans must embed protected time and support for clinicians to do research, and introduce a single streamlined sign-off process for trials. 

Similarly, we are failing to fully leverage health data for research and patient impact. Despite the UK’s leadership in data-driven research and its enormous promise, access remains fragmented and slow. Six in ten cancer researchers we surveyed said they face difficulties accessing the data they need. 

If delivered effectively, the recently announced Health Data Research Service could be a game-changer. It could finally unlock the NHS’s full research potential, but only if it is equipped with better governance, modern infrastructure, and a strong foundation of public trust. 

3. Invest in people and places that power discovery and patient impact 

Breakthroughs in cancer research don’t happen in a vacuum, and discoveries don’t automatically translate into the tests and treatments that transform patient outcomes. They rely on the right environment – one that brings together talented people, cutting-edge infrastructure, strong institutions and sustained investment from both public and private sectors.  

Our recent report, Clusters: Investing for Impact, identifies the Government’s role in shaping these places. Strategic risk-taking and long-term funding can give research leaders the autonomy and support needed to deliver world-leading research hubs like the Francis Crick Institute. Done right, this approach can create thriving, self-sustaining research clusters that attract global talent and investment. 

There are signs of progress. The Government’s commitment to the Oxford-Cambridge corridor and 10-year R&D funding settlements suggest a growing recognition of its role. Effective life science clusters require commercial R&D alongside public and third sector partners, and resolution of the current review of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG) between government and the pharmaceutical industry is essential in securing strong commercial research commitments over the coming decade. 

Through the upcoming Industrial Strategy and Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government has the opportunity to show how these ambitions will be funded and implemented. 

4. Make the UK attractive, affordable and accessible to talent

To beat cancer, we need the brightest minds working in environments where they can thrive. That means attracting and retaining top UK and international talent and giving researchers the tools they need to make a difference. 

Changes introduced by the previous Government sharply increased costs for international researchers coming to the UK. Our analysis found that following these changes, visa costs for our Institutes were set to rise by 44%, reaching £700,000 a year – the equivalent of training 17 new Cancer Research UK PhD students.  

While the Government’s recent Immigration White Paper included some positive measures (for example committing to make the Global Talent Visa simpler and easier) it failed to tackle the broader cost burden – a missed opportunity. Unwelcoming rhetoric also risks exacerbating the problem. 

With new plans on the horizon, it’s now time for the Government to make a decisive change. If the UK wants to lead in science, it needs policies that welcome the people who make it possible. 

5. Support global research collaborations

Science is global, and no one country will beat cancer alone. Evidence shows that international collaboration makes research more impactful, speeding up the development of groundbreaking discoveries. 

In our Nothing Should Stand in the Way report, we highlight the need for a strong UK-EU research relationship. Since Brexit, scientists have reported more delays, rising costs, and growing uncertainty – barriers that threaten progress. 

At a critical moment for research globally, when the US Government is signalling its intent to slash international research collaboration, the UK should seize the opportunity to lead the way. The UK-EU reset announced recently was a good start; now the Government must build on that momentum. Removing obstacles and expanding opportunities for global collaboration will be key, with tangible actions like streamlining clinical trial approvals and backing international research programmes making a real difference.