Skip to main content

Together we are beating cancer

Donate now

Cancer News

  • For Supporters

The ALBORADA Trust donates £9m to help develop the next generation of cancer research leaders

by Krishna Sharma | Philanthropy and partnerships

27 October 2026

0 comments 0 comments

facebook icon twitter icon linkedin icon
Researchers working in the lab in our Scotland Institute

The ALBORADA Trust has committed £9m to fund a new cohort of Career Development Fellows and help develop the next generation of cancer research leaders.

One of the largest single philanthropic gifts to our £400m philanthropy campaign, More Research, Less Cancer, the donation will fund six CRUK-ALBORADA Fellowships. We will match the Trust’s commitment, creating a total investment of £18m and 12 Fellowships.

The Fellowships will support exceptional researchers at a critical point in their careers, helping them establish independent research programmes, pursue ambitious ideas and build the skills, teams and expertise needed to become leaders in cancer research.

“Progress against cancer depends on a steady pipeline of outstanding researchers bringing bold new ideas, expertise and discoveries into the field,” our Chief Executive, Michelle Mitchell OBE, said.

Thanks to this generous investment from The ALBORADA Trust, more talented scientists will have the opportunity to establish independent research careers at a critical stage in their development and pursue research that could improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

- Michelle Mitchell OBE

“Supporting the next generation of research leaders is essential to driving future breakthroughs and bringing us closer to a world where everybody can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer,” Michelle said.

The ALBORADA Trust was founded by Kirsten Rausing in 2001 and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The Trust’s funding was initially based on the racecourse earnings of the Founder’s homebred World Champion filly ALBORADA. It supports medical and veterinary research and education, the welfare of animals and the provision of relief to disaster areas worldwide.  

“The ALBORADA Trust has supported important work in cancer research for many years, and we are delighted to strengthen that commitment through a new long-term partnership with Cancer Research UK,” Founding Trustee of The ALBORADA Trust, Kirsten Rausing CBE DL said.

Through the CRUK-ALBORADA Fellowships, we are proud to support talented researchers as they pursue innovative ideas and develop their potential as leaders. By investing in exceptional talent, we are helping to build the expertise needed to accelerate progress against cancer and support Cancer Research UK’s mission to beat cancer.

- Kirsten Rausing CBE DL
A cluster of different sized pink cells seen through a microscope.

The Trust has supported our work since 2005. Previous funding has included support for research infrastructure at our Cambridge Institute and an MB-PhD studentship through the Borysiewicz Clinical PhD Fund, which helps develop the next generation of clinician scientists.

In addition to its £9m gift to us, The ALBORADA Trust has committed £1m to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) in support of their new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, bringing its total investment in cancer research and care to £10m.

Since its inception, the Trust has distributed over £60m. This long-term award towards cancer research in the UK will take its total funding to c. £70m.

Tell us what you think

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read our comment policy.

Highlighted content

More like this

A group of killer T cells (green and red) surrounding a cancer cell (blue, center).

Sign up to our newsletter

Subscribe now

Tell us what you think

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read our comment policy.