ABC UK IOPP is an annual small grants programme dedicated solely to bladder cancer.  Launched in November 2016, it is the only grants programme in the UK and is aimed at encouraging work to directly improve outcomes and patient experience for those with bladder cancer.  The programme is designed to focus on small, innovative projects that can demonstrate clear outcomes and improve knowledge, enable change and have a direct impact on patient experience.  There is little research investment in bladder cancer or improving outcomes for those with bladder cancer or their experience as a patient - and the programme's aim is to actively encourage work which will have an impact and also act as a catalyst to encourage other projects.

The grants programme is open to a wide range of applicants - those in primary care, urologists, cancer specialists and researchers. Our view of what constitutes an eligible project is deliberately broad - for example, projects might be aimed at improving patient experience in a practical setting, improving early diagnosis in primary care, focus on improving or developing treatments, be a data led piece of research or a lab-based project. 

The Andrew Meadows Award

As part of the IOPP grants, a special 'in memory' research award is given each year to the project which the panel judges to be most deserving.  The Andrew Meadows Award will be given to the project we consider to be the outstanding project from the submissions we receive to the annual IOPP grant round.  We wish to commemorate Andrew Meadows, who sadly died from bladder cancer in 2018: this special award is in his memory. We thank Andrew's family for their generosity in supporting vital research into bladder cancer.

 
2025 IOPP Grant guidelines and application form will be uploaded later this year. For reference, here are this years':
ABCUK IOPP 2024 Guidelines Primary Care Research and Clinical.pdf 
ABCUK IOPP 2024 APPLICATION FORM.docx

The ABC UK Nursing Grants Programme was established to acknowledge the great contribution made by specialist nurses to improving both patient experience and their treatment pathway, and to encourage and enable more nurses to participate in ABC UK's grant programme and to apply for project funding.  This category of grants gives awards to nurse-led projects and pieces of work; to encourage and fund small projects that will directly benefit bladder cancer patients.  We are interested in stand-alone projects which will facilitate change, share best practice, explore different approaches or improve knowledge and, most importantly, improve outcomes for patients or their experience.

Nursing Grant guidelines and application form will be uploaded later this year. For reference, here are this years': 
ABCUK Nursing Grants 2024 Guidelines.pdf
ABCUK NURSING GRANTS 2024 APPLICATION FORM.docx

You can read about some examples of previous grants here: NURSES GRANTS PROGRAMME LEAFLET 2023.pdf

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) non-commercial partner

Action Bladder Cancer UK is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) non-commercial partner. This means the studies that we fund may be eligible to access the NIHR Study Support Service which is provided by the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The NIHR Clinical Research Network can now support health and social care research taking place in non-NHS settings, such as studies running in care homes or hospices, or public health research taking place in schools and other community settings. Read the full policy: Eligibility Criteria for NIHR Clinical Research Network Support.  In partnership with your local R&D office, we encourage you to involve your local NIHR Clinical Research Network team in discussions as early as possible when planning your study. This will enable you to fully benefit from the support available through the NIHR Study Support Service. 

To find out more, please visit: www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-and-support/study-support-service/ 

If your study involves NHS sites in England you will need to apply for Health Research Authority Approval.

For guidance on submitting an application please visit:www.hra.nhs.uk/ 

ABC UK COVID-19 IMPACT FUND - NOW OPEN 

Separate from our normal annual grants programme, and in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ABC UK set up a special small grants fund.  We are currently keeping this fund open for expressions of interest.

Covid-19 has had a serious impact on everyone - but has significantly impacted those with cancer - whether just diagnosed, undergoing treatment or living with cancer.  ABC UK knows, both from patients themselves and from the health professionals treating them, that bladder cancer patients have been seriously affected by: delays in diagnosis; delays in treatment; delays in surveillance testing and monitoring; changing treatments and treatment pathways; changing patient behaviour.

Our COVID-19 Patient surveys demonstrate some of this impact and we shall be using follow up surveys to continue monitoring this situation.  You can read our summary report from our survey here:Covid - 19 Survey Summary Results .pdf 

Aim of the Fund

Action Bladder Cancer UK wants to help the NHS and research community respond to the continuing impact of Covid-19, for any future wave or crises, and to improve the treatment and experience of those with bladder cancer.  We are also aware that there have been positive lessons learned about patient treatment pathways and processes resulting from the necessary changes made due to the pandemic.  We want to help support the development of these benefits and lessons.    

ABC UK has launched a modest fund to help achieve this and welcomes applications.  The scope of this fund is deliberately broad to avoid limiting ideas.  There is no application deadline and we shall keep this Fund open until we feel it is appropriate to close it.

Details and how to apply here:ABC UK COVID Impact Fund Guidelines.pdf

Please note this grant fund is aimed at work relating directly to bladder cancer patients - it is not intended that the fund will be used directly on Covid-19 services.