How our research funding works

Our investment in research is saving lives right now through the development of new, more effective treatments.

Our ultimate aim, however, is to prevent children from developing leukaemia – and we are working towards this through our investment in research into the causes of the disease.

Every year we invest millions of pounds, all of which has been raised and donated by thousands of supporters. Spending these hard-earned funds is a big responsibility so we go to great lengths to make sure that we spend them wisely.

How much do we grant on research?

In 2008 we made grants of more than £4 million for research into the causes and treatment of childhood leukaemia. This includes a small amount to support various conferences and meetings related to research into childhood leukaemia and to allow some of our grant-holders to travel to such meetings.

Breakdown of 2008 research grants

What types of grants do we make?

We make five main types of research grant:

• Programme grants. Through our programme grants we award funding of up to five years for research related to a particular theme. We currently have three programme grants in place – at the University of Bristol, the University of Oxford and the new UCL Cancer Institute.  

• Project grants.  Through our project grants we provide support of up to three years to researchers working on specific research projects. We are currently funding 28 projects around the UK and abroad.

• Capital grants. On occasion we provide funding towards the development of new research facilities or towards a particular piece of research equipment.

• Scientific conferences and meetings. We help to fund relevant scientific conference and meetings to facilitate dissemination of research results.

• Travel grants. On occasion we provide additional funding to our grant-holders to enable them to attend relevant conferences and meetings.

Find out how to apply for a grant

Who can receive research funding?

We award grants to institutions such as universities, medical and scientific research centres and hospitals.

Research institutions abroad can receive project funding but programme grants and capital grants are only available to UK institutions.

Part of the criteria for the award of a grant is that there is adequate infrastructure to support the proposed work.

How do we decide who to fund?

Our research strategy sets out the key areas of research we have decided we need to focus on.

We invite grant applications, either as part of a themed grants round or on an ad hoc basis in areas of particular interest.

Grants are made following a rigorous process of peer review during which opinion is sought from our own scientific advisors as well as external reviewers.

For our grants rounds we convene a specialist panel to review the applications we receive. The 2008 grant panel comprised: Professor Eric Wright (Chair), Professor Jill Birch, Professor Tariq Enver, Professor Mel Greaves, Professor Denis Henshaw, Professor Victor Hoffbrand, Professor Patricia McKinney, Dr Mike Murphy, Professor Irene Roberts and Professor Bryan Young.

CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). The AMRC sets minimum standards of good practice to which member charities must adhere in their grant-making, including policies on peer review.
Visit AMRC website (new window will open)

How do we monitor the research that we fund?

We keep in touch with grant-holders during the period of their grant to monitor their progress and keep track of findings.

Under our terms and conditions of funding, all grant-holders must provide annual reports on the progress of their project and a final report at the end of the grant.

We endeavour to visit each project at least once during the course of the grant – to meet the research team, inspect the research facilities and check on the progress of the work.

Our terms and conditions of funding (PDF. 100KB. New window will open)

What happens to the results from our research projects?

We place great importance on the dissemination of results, so that those working in the field can learn from other people’s research.

We closely monitor the progress of the projects we fund and encourage scientists to publish the results of their work where possible. 

We provide additional funding for researchers to travel to conferences and meetings to present their work and discuss their findings.

As well as funding a number of relevant conferences and meetings during the year, we have ourselves hosted two international conferences. These conferences – held in 2004 and 2008 - both focused on the causes of childhood leukaemia and attracted delegates and speakers from leading research centres around the world. 

Do we fund research involving animals?

The leukaemia treatments which save the lives of hundreds of children every year could not have been developed without the use of animals. We continue to fund research to find improved treatments which will cure even the most severe forms of leukaemia, causing minimum side effects for the child.

We do not seek to influence the research procedures of the scientists we fund. Neither do we control the nature of research projects that take place in buildings that we have funded.

However, all research we fund undergoes rigorous peer review and assessment by our expert scientific advisors to ensure that it is necessary and valuable.

In addition, all animal research carried out in the UK is subject to the strict regulations set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. We take steps to ensure that researchers carrying out projects abroad adhere to similar standards.

Do we fund research using human embryos or stem cells?

We have never funded any research using human embryos. Neither have we funded any research using ‘embryonic stem cells’.

Any reference to the use of ‘stem cells’ in our research refers to ‘haematopoietic stem cells’. These are primitive blood cells which have the potential to develop into any of the different kind of blood cells.

The term ‘stem cell transplant’ refers to these haematopoietic stem cells and is a more modern term for ‘bone marrow transplant’ – stem cells are now generally taken from the circulating blood of the donor rather than from the bone marrow as was previously the case.

We are funding research aimed at improving the effectiveness of stem cell transplants in the treatment of childhood leukaemia. Please visit our Current treatment projects to read more about this work.