A key objective of TYAC is to lead and fund world-class research dedicated to teenage and young adult cancer.

We recognise the need for a well-defined research agenda that bridges the gap between the children’s and adult oncology research worlds. TYAC is taking the lead on building a new focus on research that is dedicated to the very specific needs of teenage and young adult cancer treatment and care which will help change the future of teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer care and improve outcomes for young people with cancer.

Over the next 3-5 years we aim to:

• Define and establish a comprehensive research strategy and portfolio
• Identify and fund research gaps to ensure the whole cancer experience is taken into account
• Promote and encourage TYA tumour banking with patients and hospital centres to increase samples for research within the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) Tissue Bank
• Strengthen national and international collaborations and partnerships within the cancer research community to drive improvements
• Encourage new types of partnerships and collaborative working to support the development of innovative ideas and novel approaches for TYA research
• Ensure patient involvement and experience is at the heart of our research
• Develop the next generation of TYA cancer researchers

Our medical and scientific expertise, alongside the recent TYA PSP puts us in a strong position to prioritise areas of unmet need and offer funding for specific research projects.

Our aim over the next few years is to increase our investment in research through the following ways:

• Raising funds through TYAC fundraising activities and through TYAC Named Funds
• Working in partnership with other research charities

Our Research Strategy outlines our exciting plans to significantly increase our funding of research. It sets out our research priorities, and how we plan to fund and support research.

TYAC is part of Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG), which is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). This means the processes we use to select which research projects to fund (including peer review) have been assessed to ensure they are of the highest standards, funding only the best research and researchers. 

How research applications are selected

TYAC’s process of awarding new research grants is based on guidance from the AMRC, as part of CCLG's membership. This provides TYAC with a consistent process for all competitive research applications.

At the heart of this process is a rigorous system for peer review, ensuring that all new research funded by TYAC has been subject to independent scrutiny by those with expertise (peers) in teenage and young adult oncology.

It is the advice of independent experts about the scientific quality of research that informs decisions about which proposals are funded. The aim of this process is to draw from leading insight from across the world to help guide the most effective use of TYAC's resources to help maximise the impact of funding.

Process for awarding new research grants

TYAC’s process for awarding new research grants is based on the steps recommended by the AMRC meaning that independent external peer review is steering the process.

1. Grant round defined & advertised
2. Internal Triage
3. Written Peer review
4. Research Advisory Group
5. Charity Trustees
6. Project Monitoring
7. Engagement & Dissemination
8. Read our full grant award process 

Excellent research governance is at the heart of our research decision making. Our independent Research Advisory Group (RAG) overseas our research grant rounds. All of our RAG members and external peer reviewers are asked to declare any Conflicts of Interest and adhere to our Grant Review Code of Conduct. Following peer review, the RAG will discuss and rank the applications for funding.

Final approval comes from our Board of Trustees (which may be delegated to our Executive in the case of Special Named Funds and restricted funds), or the Board of Trustees of the partner charity if the funding is not directly from TYAC. 

Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)

TYAC's parent charity, CCLG, is a member of the AMRC. The AMRC is a membership organisation of the leading medical and health research charities in the UK.

Working with member charities and partners, they aim to support the sector’s effectiveness and advance medical research by developing best practice, providing information and guidance, improving public dialogue about research and science, and influencing government policy.

As a member of the AMRC, we support their statement on the use of animals in research and their statement on supporting research in universities.