Apply for a grant.

Unlocking breakthroughs in breast cancer risk research.

Breast Cancer UK is on a mission to transform our understanding of breast cancer risk — especially regarding the role environmental chemicals may play in breast cancer development. This is a topic identified as an area of unmet need in breast cancer research.

We believe that targeted research in this area is not just needed, but urgent. By strengthening the scientific data available, our hope is that it can help drive meaningful changes in policy.

Our 2025/2026 Grant Funding Round is now open for applications! This year, we are expanding our funding call focus to include not just endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but all environmental contaminants that may influence breast cancer risk. We also have a brand-new name for one of our awards alongside some new and improved applicant criteria. Further details can be found in the table below.

Deadline for submitting applications is the 12th February 2026. 

Applications open 3rd November 2025. Deadline for submitting applications is the 12 February 2026. 

What we're funding in 2025/2026.

We have two grant funding streams available. Applications should focus on the relationship between EDCs and breast cancer risk. You may apply for more than one grant from either funding stream.   

Grant Type: Career Development Award (formerly Foundation Award) 

Purpose: Aimed at Early Career Researchers who wish to focus their research on breast cancer prevention. Applications should focus on environmental chemicals and breast cancer risk. Optional career coaching is also available for the duration of the grant. 

Funding: Up to £200,000 

Who should apply: 

To be eligible for the Career Development Award, you must satisfy and show evidence of the following criteria in your application: 

• Applicants should not have received career development funding or funding in excess of £100,000 previously (from any source). 
• Applicants will need to demonstrate an upward trajectory and career progression since PhD being awarded. 
• Applicants should have their own unique research plan. 
• Applicants will need to demonstrate evidence of leadership/transition to independence (for example through teaching and supervising students or being awarded small amounts of funding). 

Grant type: Seed Award 

Purpose: Applications should be focused on environmental chemicals and breast cancer risk. Funding can be applied flexibly. The Seed Award is not limited to any particular stage of research.  

Funding: Up to £25,000  

Who should apply:

Applicants can utilise as a top-up for a project close to completion, to obtain a specific piece of equipment, or to fund a pilot project within the focus area.

What we expect from applicants. 

• Applicants must be based in a UK Higher Education Institution.
• Research must use Replacement Methods — no animal testing.
• Budgets should account for realistic cost increases year on year (e.g., increases in inflation), including for PhD studentships which should be budgeted at least at the standard UKRI rate.
• Before applying, please review our policies: animal experimentation, grant guidelines, terms and conditions, and current funded research.

How to apply. 

Applications can be made using our grants portal by following the below instructions: 

• To gain access to the grant portal, you first need to register your details via the “Start Application” button below. (If applying for more than one grant, you only need to register once.)
• You will then receive an email containing a link to access the portal. Use this link to access the portal for any future edits to your application.
• Fill in your proposal(s) in the portal. You can save drafts, edit, and submit when ready.

Need help? Feel free to reach out to Dr Kerri Palmer-Quinn, Science Manager, by emailing: [email protected].