Research policy

• Policy & Insight

Have the Spending Review and Industrial Strategy delivered for research clusters?

Our experience in developing research clusters has helped shape the Government's approach. We're analysing the new plans and sharing insights from our clusters webinar. Our experience in developing research clusters has helped shape the Government's approach. We're analysing the new plans and sharing insights from our clusters webinar.

1 July 2025

• Policy & Insight

Navigating the innovation roadmap: from discovery to patient impact

For a discovery or idea to help people affected by cancer, it must travel the innovation roadmap. We're working to make the journey smoother. For a discovery or idea to help people affected by cancer, it must travel the innovation roadmap. We're working to make the journey smoother.

17 June 2025

• Policy & Insight

Spending Review 2025: What does it mean for cancer?

We analyse the Spending Review, the financial foundation for the next several years of cancer research and care We analyse the Spending Review, the financial foundation for the next several years of cancer research and care

11 June 2025

• Policy & Insight

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

Building on insights from our research community, we’re outlining five steps the Government must take to strengthen cancer research, and the wider ecosystem it sits within, so it can continue delivering life-saving tests and treatments.  Building on insights from our research community, we’re outlining five steps the Government must take to strengthen cancer research, and the wider ecosystem it sits within, so it can continue delivering life-saving tests and treatments. 

5 June 2025

• Policy & Insight

Less red tape and lower costs: How the UK-EU political reset can support cancer research progress worldwide

As we launch our new report, “Nothing should stand in the way”, we reflect on how the UK and EU could be more ambitious, grasping opportunities for closer scientific cooperation to promote health and wealth across the continent and beyond As we launch our new report, “Nothing should stand in the way”, we reflect on how the UK and EU could be more ambitious, grasping opportunities for closer scientific cooperation to promote health and wealth across the continent and beyond

22 April 2025

• Policy & Insight

Research clusters: How the Industrial Strategy can enhance the UK life sciences ecosystems

Today we've published a new report outlining our expertise in building research clusters and how they can boost the UK R&D landscape Today we've published a new report outlining our expertise in building research clusters and how they can boost the UK R&D landscape

12 March 2025

• Policy & Insight

Mission-based funding: A Cancer Research UK approach to lung cancer research

We look back on how more than 10-years of mission-based funding has transformed the UK lung cancer research ecosystem and what our new mission focused government can learn from our approach. We look back on how more than 10-years of mission-based funding has transformed the UK lung cancer research ecosystem and what our new mission focused government can learn from our approach.

13 January 2025

• Policy & Insight

2024 in review - 7 significant steps forward for cancer policy

It's been a busy year for the policy team at Cancer Research UK! From campaigning for tobacco control to working internationally to beat cervical cancer, here are seven policy highlights from 2024. It's been a busy year for the policy team at Cancer Research UK! From campaigning for tobacco control to working internationally to beat cervical cancer, here are seven policy highlights from 2024.

27 December 2024

• Policy & Insight

The cost of cancer: what does it mean for the UK economy?

The OECD has published a report looking into the economic impacts of cancer around the world. We believe it can be a powerful tool for change. It shows how focusing on cancer can help drive the UK’s economic growth - and, crucially, it records the cost of doing nothing. The OECD has published a report looking into the economic impacts of cancer around the world. We believe it can be a powerful tool for change. It shows how focusing on cancer can help drive the UK’s economic growth - and, crucially, it records the cost of doing nothing.

21 November 2024

• Policy & Insight

Autumn statement 2024: What does the budget mean for cancer?

Today was the first budget from the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. Here, we take a look at what the autumn statement means for cancer. Today was the first budget from the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. Here, we take a look at what the autumn statement means for cancer.

31 October 2024

• Policy & Insight

Cancer Research UK joins leading organisations in calling for Government to back R&D

We've joined the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), and others in the R&D sector, in writing to the Chancellor urging the UK Government to back R&D if it wants to achieve its ambitions for economic and social growth.  We've joined the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), and others in the R&D sector, in writing to the Chancellor urging the UK Government to back R&D if it wants to achieve its ambitions for economic and social growth. 

18 October 2024