Sarcoma UK Improving Understanding and Treatment of Metastatic Sarcoma Research Call

Funding for research to advance understanding of the biological mechanisms underpinning metastatic sarcoma and translate research findings to improve therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.

The Sarcoma UK grants programme funds scientific and medical research to investigate the mechanisms of all forms of bone and soft tissue cancers and develop more effective diagnostics and treatments. Its Research Strategy for 2021-2026 (pdf link) aims to ensure everyone affected by sarcoma receives the best treatment, care, information and support available and focuses on researching causes, diagnostics and treatment to improve quality of life, balanced across multiple sarcoma subtypes.

The 2026 Sarcoma UK targeted research call – Improving Understanding and Treatment of Metastatic Sarcoma Research Call – invites proposals for research that advances understanding of the biological mechanisms underpinning metastatic sarcoma and  translates research findings to improve therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.

Metastatic disease is the leading cause of death for people with sarcoma, but the underlying biology of metastatic disease remains poorly understood. While many people with sarcoma now live longer with metastatic or recurrent disease, sarcoma research typically focuses on primary tumours rather than the mechanisms driving spread and resistance.

Sarcoma UK has issued this call for research to address the urgent need to better understand the biological mechanisms underpinning sarcoma metastasis and to develop more effective approaches to prevent, detect, and treat metastatic disease.  

Funding is available for clearly defined research projects, from any research field, which address key biological questions or clinical challenges related to metastatic sarcoma. Applications must focus on metastatic sarcoma and clearly define the sarcoma subtype under investigation, justifying the relevance of the proposed work to that specific disease context. 

Applications may cover, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

• Improved understanding of the underlying biology, development, or mechanisms of metastatic sarcoma, with a clear pathway to impact for development of new therapies or improved outcomes for patients.
• Development of more effective treatments and optimisation of treatments for metastatic sarcoma and recurrence, where grounded in a clear mechanistic rationale.
• Exploration of strategies to predict or prevent metastasis, such as, but not limited to, prognostic or predictive biomarkers.
• Research addressing the clinical challenges and quality of life impacts specific to patients living with metastatic sarcomas.

Applications should have a clear pathway to impact to improve survival, treatment effectiveness, or quality of life for patients with metastatic sarcoma.