New challenges

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are now closed.

Seven new challenges, with awards of up to £20m ($25m). EOIs are now closed.

In March 2025 we announced seven new Cancer Grand Challenges to the global research community. These challenges represent the most urgent, complex problems in cancer research that require collaboration across borders and disciplines.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) stage is now closed. International teams were invited to submit proposals to take on one of our new challenges, with awards of up to £20m ($25m) available. Shortlisted teams will be notified and issued seed funding in July 2025.

Explore the new challenges below.

AI-human collaborations in cancer

Develop interdisciplinary AI agents that can generate novel cancer research hypotheses and design research plans for them to be experimentally validated.

Cancer avoidance

Understand the mechanisms by which certain high-risk populations or the extremely aged are resistant to developing cancer.

The dark proteome

Understand and exploit the dark proteome for cancer therapy.

Mechanisms driving mutational signatures

Identify the insults responsible for unexplained mutational signatures.

Nervous system and cancer challenge icon

The nervous system and cancer

Understand the dynamic interactions between the nervous system and cancer.

Rewiring cancer cells

Develop and apply novel ways to rewire cancer cells to their disadvantage.

TME dynamics

Develop methods to identify the functional role of the tumour microenvironment over time.

EOI are now closed

We are no longer accepting Expressions of Interest for the new challenges. Thank you to all who applied, shortlisted teams will be announced in September. For future updates and opportunities, please visit our Applications page.

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