Bowel Cancer UK has announced outline details of the 2025 round of its Early Diagnosis Project Grant scheme, which offers up to £165,000 over three years for researchers at academic and clinical institutions in the UK conducting innovative research to improve early diagnosis of bowel cancer.

The Bowel Cancer UK Project Grant scheme was updated in 2024 to align with the Bowel Cancer Research Strategy for 2024-30, which focuses on two strategic goals: to remove the barriers to people being diagnosed quickly, and at the earliest possible stage; and get the right treatment and care to every patient.

The 2025 Early Diagnosis Project Grant is targeting innovation in the screening and diagnosis of bowel cancer – covering both new innovations/methods and improvements to existing systems – to create a significant shift in early diagnosis capability and ensure that as many people as possible benefit from an early diagnosis. Currently, only around 40% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are at stage one and two, when the condition is at its most treatable and curable.

Projects must address one of the areas highlighted in Goal 1 of the Bowel Cancer UK Research Strategy, which include:

• Goal 1: Remove the barriers to people being diagnosed quickly, and at the earliest possible stage:
  • Stratify populations based on their risk of developing bowel cancer, with a focus on people with high-risk conditions.
  • Improve the sensitivity, acceptability, and coverage of bowel cancer screening tests.
  • Enhance the diagnosis of bowel cancer and how the right treatment options are chosen.

Lead Applicants must have a strong track record of conducting research and be based in a recognised academic or clinical institution in the UK. Applicants must hold either a tenured position or a contract with the host that extends beyond the lifetime of the grant. Applicants are expected to have some preliminary data to support their application.