What is discovery research?
Discovery research is the critical first stage of the research journey, creating a pipeline for future breakthroughs. By funding it, we help visionary scientists uncover knowledge that can lead to new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
Cutting-edge science gives us hope.
By funding bold new ideas and ambitious projects at the start of the research journey, we can transform our understanding of how cancer works, start new cures and ultimately, reach a day when no life is cut short by cancer.
Worldwide Cancer Research exclusively funds discovery research, the first step in the research journey, where scientists seek to uncover something new about the nature of cancer.
Unfortunately, many funders have been moving away from supporting curiosity-based discovery research, towards projects with nearer-term impact. In fact, there has been a 25% decline in funding for discovery research globally since 2006, even though it is a critical first step in the research journey.
Every year, we have to turn down progressive ideas from the world’s brightest scientists, because we simply cannot fund them all.
We are losing potential cures. This is why we have committed to support discovery research, as it is one of the best ways to achieve significant shifts in our understanding of cancer.
We can’t cure what we don’t understand. Discovery research provides us with information on how cancer works, and therefore helps us to design clever ways to cure it.
We continuously seek radical ideas and encourage scientists to ask big questions that could break new ground.
By taking intellectual risks and exploring bold new concepts, we gather progressive and sometimes unexpected findings that could stop lives being cut short.
Curestarters support Worldwide Cancer Research because they recognise that transformative ideas can come from learning how cancer behaves.
It can take many years to turn early ideas into outcomes, but the greatest advances in knowledge often come from unexpected places.
The cancer research journey:
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1Discovery research - the first step in the research journey -
2Translational research - turning discovery into something practical -
3Clinical research - testing a new drug on people
Starting new cures:
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Discovery researchI’m hopeful Matilda and I will have our happy ending
Victoria was just 34 when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. One year after her devastating diagnosis, Victoria credits research and early detection for giving her a future with her little girl, Matilda.
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Discovery researchI was described as a walking miracle
It was after the birth of her first child at only age 21 when Tamron learned she had peritoneal mesothelioma – a rare but deadly type of cancer.
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Discovery researchWhat do the experts think is the future of cancer research?
Some of our world-class researchers give their views on hot topics in cancer, from rare cancers and stopping the spread of cancer, to personalised medicine and immunotherapy.
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Discovery researchCharities like Worldwide Cancer Research have helped change the outcomes of this disease
After losing his dad and both grandfathers to cancer, Jack was naturally terrified to be diagnosed with testicular cancer.
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Discovery researchIf it wasn't for cancer research I might not be here today
Sam was only 11 years old when his parents were told that he had stage 4 liver cancer, after suffering pain during a family holiday.
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Discovery researchTransformative medical discoveries and where they started
Did you know that 8/10 of the worlds “most transformative” medicines emerged from discovery research? Find out more about five of our top picks.
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Discovery researchWe had twenty more wonderful years together thanks to cancer research
In 2015, Pat sadly lost her beloved husband Alistair to cancer. This is her story of how pioneering cancer research gave them many more happy years together.
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No life should be cut short by cancer. Do you agree? Become a Curestarter today.
Most advances that are made in the clinic originally come from basic scientific observations. If we do not invest in those, we are jeopardising the basic foundations that nurture medical progress. It is essential to support discovery research, or everything would collapse.
Help scientists discover new cures
Curestarters help us fund more cutting-edge discovery research today, so we can bring forward breakthroughs and be ready to face the cancer challenges of tomorrow.
Cancer is a global issue
Why fund cancer research worldwide?
Worldwide Cancer Research funds innovative research anywhere in the world, because we know the best ideas in cancer research can come from anywhere.
Starting new cures for all cancers
Why do we fund research into any cancer?
Cancer is not just one disease. In fact, there are more than 200 distinct types of cancer - and all of them need new cures.
