Skip to main content

Together we are beating cancer

Donate now

Cancer Grand Challenges

Showing 12 out of 64 results
Confocal micrograph of highly invasive tumour cells derived from a rare paediatric brain tumour.

Cancer Grand Challenges has awarded five global research teams up to £20m each to help us overcome some of the biggest obstacles in the way of against cancer. Cancer Grand Challenges has awarded five global research teams up to £20m each to help us overcome some of the biggest obstacles in the way of against cancer.

by Tim Gunn | News, In depth | 4 March 2026

4 March 2026

Scientist holding up a plate with bacteria growing.

Over the last 10 years, our researchers have completely changed the world's understanding of how cancer starts. Here's how they did it, and what it means for stopping cancer in the future. Over the last 10 years, our researchers have completely changed the world's understanding of how cancer starts. Here's how they did it, and what it means for stopping cancer in the future.

by Tim Gunn | In depth | 16 December 2025

16 December 2025

An electron micrograph of 3 purple coloured lung cancer cells.
  • Science & Technology
  • Health & Medicine
  • Charity News

The latest teams bidding for up to £20m to tackle cancer's greatest challenges

Cancer Grand Challenges has announced the 12 latest teams competing for up for £20 million each to bring their research to life. Cancer Grand Challenges has announced the 12 latest teams competing for up for £20 million each to bring their research to life.

by Amal Iman | News | 24 September 2025

24 September 2025

This entry is part 26 of 35 in the series That Cancer Conversation
Lab-grown bowel cancer cells seen through a microscope. They are colour-enhanced and appear blue.

A team of our Cancer Grand Challenges researchers have found an important clue about what could be behind the rise of bowel cancer in under-50s. A team of our Cancer Grand Challenges researchers have found an important clue about what could be behind the rise of bowel cancer in under-50s.

by Tim Gunn | News | 23 April 2025

23 April 2025

Lung cancer cells seen through a microscope, in shades of purple and green,

Cancer Grand Challenges is offering up to £20m funding to teams that can answer seven of the biggest and most important questions in cancer. Cancer Grand Challenges is offering up to £20m funding to teams that can answer seven of the biggest and most important questions in cancer.

by Tim Gunn | News | 5 March 2025

5 March 2025

Dr Yin Cao and a colleague looking at data about cancer incidence.

Rising rates of early-onset bowel cancer are a “global phenomenon” and some of the steepest increases are happening in England, according to a major new paper we helped fund. Rising rates of early-onset bowel cancer are a “global phenomenon” and some of the steepest increases are happening in England, according to a major new paper we helped fund.

by Tim Gunn | News | 11 December 2024

11 December 2024

An illustration of a T cell

With help from a new Nobel Laureate, Cancer Grand Challenges team MATCHMAKERS are developing AI models that can identify the immune cells best equipped to fight different cancers. That should make it possible to improve immunotherapies and match patients with the treatments best suited to them as individuals. With help from a new Nobel Laureate, Cancer Grand Challenges team MATCHMAKERS are developing AI models that can identify the immune cells best equipped to fight different cancers. That should make it possible to improve immunotherapies and match patients with the treatments best suited to them as individuals.

by Jacob Smith | Analysis | 31 October 2024

31 October 2024

A sample of a mouse model of a tumour seen through team Rosetta's tools.

Cancer Grand Challenges team Rosetta found how some of the most aggressive and hard-to-treat breast cancers get the energy they need to grow and spread so quickly. Now we can see about slowing them down for good. Cancer Grand Challenges team Rosetta found how some of the most aggressive and hard-to-treat breast cancers get the energy they need to grow and spread so quickly. Now we can see about slowing them down for good.

by Tim Gunn | In depth | 24 September 2024

24 September 2024

A scientist carrying out clinical research in the lab.

Early-onset cancer is a growing problem. Cancer rates in 25 to 49-year-olds increased by 24% from 1995 to 2019, according to our latest data. Early-onset cancer is a growing problem. Cancer rates in 25 to 49-year-olds increased by 24% from 1995 to 2019, according to our latest data.

by Tim Gunn | News | 3 June 2024

3 June 2024

An abstract illustration of a DNA molecule

Researchers from the Cancer Grand Challenges Mutographs team have identified a previously unknown mutational signature in the DNA of kidney cancer across 11 countries Researchers from the Cancer Grand Challenges Mutographs team have identified a previously unknown mutational signature in the DNA of kidney cancer across 11 countries

by Jacob Smith | In depth | 1 May 2024

1 May 2024