December Research News
Welcome to the December edition of Research News!
Please get in touch with any feedback or suggestions for future editions of Research News.
Featured Research Project
This edition spotlights research led by Professor Johann de Bono, Dr Adam Sharp and Dr Alec Paschalis at The Institute of Cancer Research.
Learn more about the team’s research and its potential to make a real difference for men with prostate cancer.
Careers in Research - Our New Webinar Series!
We’re excited to announce the first of our new Careers in Research webinars!
Are you an early career researcher with a brilliant research idea, but unsure how to turn it into a clinical trial? Or are you curious about careers in academic trials – as a statistician, methodologist, or a data manager?
Join Professor Emma Hall, Director of the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR-CTSU), and Deputy Director & Operations Director Claire Snowdon to understand how partnering with a CTSU can support researchers at every stage to ensure their research has real-world impact.
You can find further information and register for this exciting webinar through the link below:
UK Prostate Cancer Clinical Research Strategy Group
We’re excited to welcome new members and early-career observers to join the UK Prostate Cancer Clinical Research Strategy Group (CRSG). If you work in pathology, primary care, radiology or research nursing - or you’re a junior consultant or trainee looking to get involved - we’d love to hear from you. It’s a great chance to help shape the future of clinical prostate cancer research. Applications are open until 4pm, Friday 16 January.
We’re also inviting proposals for review at our next meeting on Friday 17 April 2026. Whether you’re developing a clinical trial or pursuing translational or biomarker research with clear clinical relevance, we encourage you to submit your ideas. Please note purely basic science projects are outside our scope. The deadline for submissions is 4pm, Friday 13 February.
Thanks to our Committee Members
We could not fund such fantastic research without the help of our funding Committees. Several of the Committee members have reached the end of their terms and stepped down this year, so we’d like to extend a huge thank-you to all of them for sharing their time and expertise with us.
Our thanks go to Dr Cynthia Menard, Professor Helen McCarthy, Dr Nina Tunariu, Professor Craig Robson, Professor Simon Crabb and Professor Guido Jenster.
From Ideas to Innovation - Discussion Session!
We’re looking forward to the discussion session at From Ideas to Innovation, From Conversation to Commitment: Equity in Research Career Progression.
This discussion will examine the barriers to thriving in the prostate cancer research community, featuring insights from a panel of Black researchers. Together, we will consider how the prostate cancer research community can take meaningful action to foster a more inclusive, supportive environment and drive positive, lasting change.
From Ideas to Innovation is now fully booked, and we have a waiting list. Therefore, if you’re no longer able to attend, please let us know at [email protected] so we can offer your place to another researcher.
For full details on all sessions and speakers, please visit the event webpage using the link below:
Funding Opportunities
Our grant schemes are currently closed, but we’ll be opening again for applications next year. If you're thinking of applying for a Transformational Impact Award, a Research Innovation Award (both opening in summer) or a Career Acceleration Fellowship (opening in spring) in 2026, get in touch and start sharing your ideas with us. We’re here to provide guidance and advice throughout the process!
In the meantime, here are some other funding opportunities you might be interested in:
MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowships
The MRC’s Clinical Research Training Fellowships are now open for applications from healthcare professionals who wish to undertake a PhD or reacquire skills after time away from research. Visit the MRC’s website to find out more ahead of the 14 January 2026 deadline.
Cancer Research UK - Clinical Future Leaders Fellowship
Now open for applications, this fellowship aims to support clinician scientists to transition to research independence and leadership in their field of cancer research. Read more about the scheme on the Cancer Research UK website.
Black Leaders in Cancer & Convergence PhD Studentships 2026
Two fully funded PhD studentships (Black Leaders in Cancer Studentship and Convergence PhD Studentship) at The Institute of Cancer Research are now open for applications. The deadline for submissions is 26 January 2026. For more information visit the ICR website.
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