Research we fund in the UK

At WCRF UK we fund scientists across the country to carry out vital research into cancer risk.

We fund studies across the country on a range of subjects from trying to better understand how different substances affect the cancer process through to trying to find out the best ways of encouraging children to have a healthy lifestyle that they can continue as adults.

But all of our research has the same objective – to improve our understanding of how cancer can be prevented.

We fund research across the UK. After all, cancer does not recognise borders and we are committed to funding any science that can help give people the information they need to make the kind of healthy lifestyle choices that can reduce their risk of cancer.

Dundee: We fund the Livewell project at the University of Dundee, which is looking at how diet and lifestyle affects cancer survivors.

Leeds: At the University of Leeds we are currently funding a study looking at:

• The role of dietary choices such as fruit and vegetables on weight change in middle-aged women

Cambridge: We fund studies at the University of Cambridge, looking at:

• Whether there is a relationship between high sugar intake and breast and bowel cancer
• The role that lifestyle has in how long women who have had breast cancer remain free of cancer
• How diet affects the fat mass of adolescents and how this may change with age

Bristol: We currently fund six studies at the University of Bristol. These are looking at:

• What influences eating behaviour and obesity in adolescents
• Whether there is a link between genetic variants linked to milk intake and prostate cancer risk
• The effect of diet on a insulin-like growth factors - which are molecules that occur in the body - and whether high levels are linked to cancer risk
• Whether body measurements such as height, leg length and foot size in children are linked to cancer risk in later life
• Whether there is a link between levels of Vitamin D in the blood and prostate cancer progression
• The role of folate in the development and progression of prostate cancer to an advanced stage

Aberdeen: We are currently funding a study at the Rowlett Research Institute in Aberdeen looking at the effect of weight-loss diets on the large intestine and whether this relates to risk of bowel cancer.

Manchester: We are currently funding a study at the University of Manchester that is comparing strict and moderate calorie restriction and whether there is an effect in pre-menopausal women on weight loss, levels of hormones and cancer-causing substances.

London: We are currently funding studies in London that are looking at:

• The effects of early life nutrition on breast cancer risk and breast density
• Whether folate can reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer and study how this happens

Glasgow: We are currently funding a study at the University of Glasgow looking at dietary nitrates between the stomach and oesophagus.

Sheffield: We are currently funding a study at the University of Sheffield looking into the pattern of change in the DNA of cervical cells and whether certain B Vitamins are linked to cervical cancer risk.

Milton Keynes: We are currently funding two studies at the Open University in Milton Keynes looking at:

• DNA damage caused by high meat consumption and the risk of developing bowel cancer
• Developing ways of measuring DNA damage in urine samples to detect DNA damage before cancer develops

Durham: We are currently funding a study looking at how working with schools can promote healthy weight in children and encourage them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Leicester: We are currently funding a study at the University of Leicester looking at whether drinking coffee in pregnancy can cause DNA damage to the baby and therefore increase its risk of leukaemia later in life.

Keele: We are currently funding a study at Keele University looking at whether women having high levels of folic acid during pregnancy can have an effect on the activity of genes involved in cancer, which could then affect the child’s cancer risk in the future.

Find out more about research we fund around the world.

Find out more about our Expert Report. If you are a scientist, why not bookmark our section for researchers?.