Putting patients at the heart of our work
Cancer Grand Challenges is a global funding initiative founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute. We set ambitious challenges, providing global teams with $25m to come together and think differently, with the aim of making the progress against cancer the world urgently needs.
It’s imperative that the work we do translates into tangible impact for people affected by cancer across the globe. To enable this input, we have established the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel, chaired by Margaret Grayson MBE. The panel is instrumental in helping develop how we embed advocacy within the initiative.
Get involved
From helping to shape challenges, to working closely with teams – the voice, experience, and insight of people affected by cancer is central to our work. Each panel member brings a unique perspective based on their skills, experience and established networks with other patients and the public.
Thank you for your interest in joining the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel. Applications to join closed on 20 January. We are now in the reviewing and shortlisting process.
There is a possibility that we will hold another round of applications later this year to ensure we include the voices of people affected by cancer based outside of the United Kingdom and reflect the global nature of the initiative.
For more information, please email Andrea Delgado
Margaret Grayson is Chair of the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel. A native of Belfast, Margaret works extensively with cancer organisations as a personal and public involvement (PPI) representative. Margaret currently chairs the Cancer Grand Challenge Advocacy Panel, having been the deputy chair previously. She also chairs the Northern Ireland Cancer Research Consumer Forum, working with the NI Cancer Trials Network and is a lay member of their Executive Committee.
Margaret is a member of the NCRI Consumer Forum and represents Northern Ireland on the Consumer Involvement Advisory Group. She is an active partner in several Trial Management Groups and also a co-applicant on a Health Technology Assessment trial, as well as being a member of Independent Cancer Patient Voice (ICPV), and a facilitator for HSC, Public Health, Research and Development Division’s Building Research Partnerships workshop. She has been a member of Cancer Research UK’s Research and Innovation Cancer Insight Panel and been involved in many of Cancer Research UK’s PPI activities.
Margaret was awarded the MBE for services to cancer research in the Queen's Birthday 2018 Honours List.
Following an unexpected diagnosis of myeloma in 2014, Claire continued working. In June 2015, she was also diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer. Following a year of breast cancer treatment, she returned to full-time work, but left in 2017. Claire now volunteers for public involvement activities to use the skills gained during employment to support vital initiatives like Cancer Grand Challenges.
Claire is sports mad and competes in half marathons. She ran every day during chemotherapy for breast cancer and loves helping people gain enjoyment from running. She swims regularly and enjoys many other sports. Sport helps her to deal with the stress of living with myeloma.
Since becoming interested in volunteering Claire has taken on everal public involvement roles, including being part of the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel and working with Genomics Partnership Wales, which delivers the Welsh Government’s Genomics for Precision Medicine strategy. She has also been involved in the CRUK-RCGP (Royal College of General Practitioners) partnership which aims to improve early diagnosis rates; the Royal College of Radiology’s working group responsible for developing professional guidance on the Duty of Candour and several research study steering groups for Cardiff University.
Debby was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2014 and during her treatment took part in several research trials. This sparked an ongoing interest in health research.
She sits as a public or lay member on several National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) panels and boards, and is also a member of the NICE Coloectal Cancer Guideline Committee.
She is a co-applicant on two cancer trials funded by Cancer Research UK and Macmillan, and also runs a Community of Interest Company (CIC) called Help-Diabetes, offering support for people with Type 2 Diabetes.
Her work with Cancer Research UK has included being a member of one a sounding boards, acting as an Involvement Coach, and many other involvement roles. She currently is working on the Data Intelligence Group. She feels that being part of the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel is a highlight and an exciting opportunity to help shape significant and potentially game changing pieces of research.
Following the death of his wife from bowel cancer, aged just 52, Patrick was determined to do whatever he could to try to ensure that as few families as possible went through the devastating experience him, his wife and children went through.
Patrick began volunteering and fundraising for Cancer Research UK. Over the years he’s become involved in a range of patient and public involvement opportunities, including focus groups, advisory boards, working parties and research groups. He’s been a CRUK Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for 7 years and is currently a member of the CRUK Policy Insights Panel and the CRUK-RCGP (Royal College of General Practitioners) Steering Group. He is a member of the NHS Cancer Programme Patient and Public Voices Forum and a member of the Francis Crick Institute Patient Advisory Panel. He is particularly passionate about cancer prevention and early diagnosis. Patrick feels proud and privileged to be a member of the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel, which gives him the opportunity to play a part in making a real difference and transforming lives.
Gita has been involved with various CRUK Patient and Public Involvement activities for a number of years. She has worked within the NHS throughout her career, leaving when her son was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in 2012. Having gone through chemotherapy, proton therapy, stem cell transplant and participation in a clinical trial, sadly, they lost him in 2015.
Gita recognises that ongoing research allowed her son to access all the treatments. Gita provides a carer's perspective to the parental and bone cancer groups that she is involved with.