2022 - 2023 Funding Round Now Open

As well as participating in, supporting and encouraging research, we also actively fund research and projects to improve outcomes for patients.

ABC UK gives grants under two annual schemes:

• ABC UK Improving Outcomes for Patients Programme
• ABC UK Nursing Awards

   ABC UK IOPP (Improving Outcomes for Patients Programme) 2022/2023

ABC UK IOPP is an annual small grants programme - launched in November 2016, and is the only grants programme in the UK dedicated solely to bladder cancer.  It 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 our aim with this programme 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 Application window for IOPP 2022-2023 opens on 05 December 2022 and closes on 31 March 2023.

Please read the Guidelines before making an application.  Any applications must be made on the IOPP Application Form. 

Guidelines and application form below: 

ABCUK IOPP 2022 2023 APPLICATION FORM.docx

ABCUK IOPP 2023 Guidelines Primary Care Research and Clinical.pdf  

If you would like to express interest in applying for an IOPP grant or have any questions please contact us.  We are happy to discuss applications in outline in advance of submission.  Contact us on info@actionbladdercanceruk.org 

The Andrew Meadows Awards

We are pleased to announce that we are also launching a new annual special Award within the IOPP Programme - the Andrew Meadows Award.  A special in memory research Award given each year to the project which, in the view of the judging panel, is most deserving of special funding.  The Andrew Meadows Award will be given to the project we consider to be the outstanding project from the submissions we receive to our 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.

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 NURSING AWARDS 2022/2023

We wish to acknowledge the great contribution made by specialist nurses to improving both patient experience and their treatment pathway.  We also wish to encourage and enable more nurses to participate in ABC UK's grant programme and to apply for project funding.  This category of grants will give 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-along projects which will facilate change, share best practice, explore different approaches or improve knowledge and, most importantly, improve outcomes for patients or their experience.

We have a streamlined application process for the Nursing Awards, and you can discuss any aspect of your project with us before making an application. 

The ABC UK Nursing Awards 2022/2023 opens for applications on 05 December 2022 and closes on 31 March 2023.

All applicants must read the Guidelines before considering an application.  All applications must be on the ABC UK Nursing Awards Application Form. 

Guidelines and Application form:

ABCUK NURSING AWARDS 2022 2023 APPLICATION FORM.docx

ABCUK Nursing Awards 2022 2023 Guidelines.pdf

If you would like to express interest in applying for an Award or have any questions please contact us.  We are happy to discuss any project ideas or provide support on making an application.  Contact us on info@actionbladdercanceruk.org 

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.