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New challenges

Challenges which are currently open for Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

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

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.

International teams are now invited to submit an EOI to take on one of these challenges. Awards of up to £20m ($25m) are available and the submission deadline is 18 June. Shortlisted teams will be notified and issued seed funding in July 2025. 

Explore the new challenges below. 

AI collaborations challenge icon

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 challenge icon

Cancer avoidance

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

TME dynamics

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

Submit your EOI

We are now accepting EOIs from global, interdisciplinary teams who want to take on one of these new challenges. Head to our Applications page to learn more about key dates, how to submit your EOI, and how to get in touch if you have any questions.
Visit our Applications page
People interacting at Cancer Grand Challenges event

Explore other challenges

PRECISION DCIS challenge

Concluded challenges

Learn about the challenges which were being tackled by teams whose funding period has now come to an end.

Monitor with scientific data

Unfunded challenges

We don't fund teams against every challenge we set. Explore the challenges that are currently unfunded and have no teams working on them.