Published on: 30 August 2024

The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw (SYB) Cancer Alliance, in collaboration with Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, have now launched their Cancer Innovation Grants programme for 2024-25.

 

If you have an innovative project or new idea that could lead to an improvement in cancer outcomes across SYB, then the Cancer Alliance is promoting a scheme to support funding of such innovation within the following focus areas:

  • Cancer early diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Recovery / Personalisation
  • Improved experience for people living with cancer  
  • Reduce health inequalities

     

Who can apply for a Cancer Innovation Grant?

Individual grants of up to £30,000 are on offer to successful applicants within the region’s health and care services, including primary care, secondary care, and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Collaboration across organisations and sectors (including industry) is encouraged.

The focus and approach of the funding

Schemes describing real-world application of an innovation from grass roots to larger-scale projects that will support the Cancer Alliance in achieving its strategic ambitions with a focus on reducing inequalities will be prioritised.

The SYB Cancer Alliance would particularly welcome applications which focus on (but are not exclusive to) tumour sites with the highest volume of late-stage diagnoses in SYB (data up to 2020):

  • Colorectal
  • Gynaecology
  • Head & neck
  • Haemato-oncology
  • Lung
  • Oesophago-gastric
  • Urology

And/or

Applications that target populations (middle-layer super output area level) that sit within the 20% most deprived across our region, with lower rates of early diagnosis than the national position. These are displayed in the table below:

 

Barnsley

Athersley

Grimethorpe and Brierley

Doncaster

Bentley and Toll Bar

Conisborough North

New Rossington

Adwick Le Street and Woodlands

Rotherham

Rawmarsh South

Maltby East

Sheffield

Shirecliffe and Parkwood springs

Firth Park

Parson Cross

Burngreave and Grimesthorpe

Southey Green East

Mosborough and Halfway  

Woodthorpe

 

If you are considering an application covering a specific population, we require evidence that this has been discussed with place leads (we can support contact) to ensure that the innovations can be aligned to existing CORE20PLUS5 plans.

Which type of projects have been funded before?

  • A trial of a new state-of-the-art AI tool to facilitate rapid diagnosis of breast cancer
  • Pre-development of an interactive app to allow patients to report symptoms post cancer treatment (both physical/psychological)
  • A project to improve accessibility to exercise and physical activity support for children living with cancer
  • Developing a better understanding of barriers to improve access to cancer screenings for people with mental health needs, including severe mental illness

To read more about previous successful projects, click here.

What cannot be funded by the Cancer Alliance?

  • Overheads and administration
  • Staff costs / salary relating to business as usual 
  • Support capital expenses

Gemma Ridley, Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber Innovation Hub Director said:

"We're pleased to continue collaborating with the SYB Cancer Alliance, providing ongoing support to the Grant Schemes across SYB. Previous rounds of funding have supported some fantastic projects and demonstrated positive impact for people across our region.  Details of previous innovation projects can be accessed via the SYB Cancer Alliance or Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber websites”. Home - Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber (healthinnovationyh.org.uk)

In addition, Dr Stephanie Edgar, GP and Clinical Lead from South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance, said:

“Both promoting the SYB Innovation grants schemes and being a member of the awarding panel continues to be incredibly rewarding, monitoring newly implemented projects and those successfully embedded from previous funding rounds. The schemes continue to promote benefits to patients from a range of backgrounds in achieving earlier cancer diagnosis and supporting those living with cancer in our region.  I’m excited to be part of this forthcoming scheme, focussing on specific tumour groups currently demonstrating late-stage diagnoses, and a focus on our most deprived areas across SYB whereby we can try and reduce the health inequalities gap”. 

The grant process and timeline

The Cancer Innovation Grants are available to both single organisations and collaborative bids from organisations or care settings based within Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.  Proposals will be shortlisted according to specific criteria including patient benefit, longer-term sustainability, possibility of spread and ongoing evaluation.

  • Applications for the Cancer Innovations Grant open Monday 9 September 2024
  • Applications must be submitted by 12pm on Monday 28 October 2024
  • The panel will shortlist applications within November 2024
  • Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present in December 2024 and will be notified within January 2025
  • Scheme funding to be transferred to successful awardee organisation by end March 2025
  • Delivery of successful projects is expected to begin from April 2025
  • Awardees will be required to report into the SYB Cancer Alliance Research and Innovation Panel at regular intervals throughout their project delivery phase, detailing progress against tumour group / population group
  • Awardees will be required to complete an end of year report template in Q4 2025/26, which includes metrics to demonstrate impact.

How to apply

Please complete the Cancer Innovation Grants 2024/25 Application Form and return to a.woodcock2@nhs.net by Monday 28th October 2024.

For further information about the Cancer Innovation Grants 2024/25, please contact the SYB Cancer Alliance via email k.leivers@nhs.net.

To read more about previous innovation projects, click here.

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