Why fund research worldwide?

Cancer is a global issue that affects us all. Worldwide Cancer Research is a Scottish charity that funds innovative discovery research around the world. Because we know the best ideas, that could transform our understanding of cancer, can come from anywhere.

A global challenge like cancer requires collective contribution.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide and the number of cases is expected to continue to rise. We urgently need to start more discoveries that will lead to new cures, because no one should lose a loved one too soon.

We believe in breakthroughs without borders. Because bright new ideas can come from anywhere

International collaboration pushes scientific advances further and faster. By funding research across the globe we can have the greatest potential impact on the future of cancer research.

And while the research happens worldwide, the findings impact lives locally – potentially saving the lives of the people we love by uncovering new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

For over 40 years, our Curestarters have supported ground-breaking science in countries all around the world, accelerating the impact of research and finding new cures.

Working to jointly fund projects by partnering with other international organisations helps makes our research investments – and your donations – go further, too.

Through collective contribution and human ingenuity, we can start new cures. Will you join our united effort today?

From Singapore to Spain and Norway to New Zealand.

Our worldwide impact since 1979:

£213m+

of funding on...
2,000+

innovative projects in...
450+

different research institutes in...
5

continents and...
35

countries around the world

Breakthroughs without borders:

Real life impact
Five key risk factors for endometrial cancer that you should know about

Thanks to your support Dr Tracy O’Mara and her team in Australia have made an important breakthrough in understanding risk factors for endometrial cancer.

Australia Five key risk factors for endometrial cancer that you should know about
Real life impact
The incredible story behind a lifesaving cancer drug

Curestarters funded crucial early research that helped launch a revolutionary drug, that has already been used to treat over 140,000 cancer patients worldwide Clinical trials are now ongoing to see if it could save even more.

United Kingdom The incredible story behind a lifesaving cancer drug
Real life impact
Drugging the 'undruggable' target in cancer

A research project you helped fund in 2013 allowed Dr Laura Soucek to develop a new treatment called omomyc, and prove that it was ready for clinical trials.

Spain Drugging the 'undruggable' target in cancer
Real life impact
Using lithium to prevent bowel cancer

Your support helped Professor Louis Vermeulen make a discovery that has led to the psychiatric drug lithium being tested in clinical trials to prevent bowel cancer.

Netherlands The discovery that led to the psychiatric drug lithium being tested as a way to prevent bowel cancer
Help fund the next best idea in cancer research - wherever in the world it is.

Find out how

Explore more examples of impact

Cancer research is international by nature. This means that researchers from different countries together advance the frontiers of knowledge on cancer. This progress benefits future cancer patients in all countries, regardless of where the discoveries are made.