Research Champion Award (team or individual)

Research champion – team or individual award

Greater Manchester is home to cutting-edge cancer research, and this award recognises the people and teams driving that progress. The Research Champion award celebrates either an outstanding individual researcher or a collaborative team whose work is helping turn scientific discoveries into real improvements for cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, delivering meaningful benefit for patients and the public.

Nominees may be at any career stage and may represent a range of professions and backgrounds. This includes individual researchers who are making exceptional contributions, as well as interdisciplinary teams uniting diverse expertise to tackle complex research challenges. All nominees should demonstrate how they work with patients or members of the public to help shape their research.

Our judges are looking for:

  • A clear explanation of the individual or team, their project(s), research objectives and outcomes
  • Evidence of interdisciplinary or cross-professional collaboration, where relevant
  • Evidence of meaningful involvement of patients or the public in shaping the research
  • Demonstration of how the research has delivered, or could deliver, measurable benefits for patients
  • Nominees must be working within cancer research facilities, with the majority of researchers or leads based in Greater Manchester
  • For individual applicants: An overview of major achievements, including contributions outside a traditional academic environment
  • For team applicants: Evidence of effective teamwork and combined expertise working toward a common research goal

View Other Awards

This is the entry form for the Greater Manchester Cancer Research Champion Award 2026. Please use this space to tell our judges about the project, team or service that you are entering.

Please get straight to the point - remember our judges will have a lot to read!

Each category asks different questions, so please don't copy and paste as you may miss some of the most important questions.

Your Details

Please provide details of the team making the entry to allow us to contact you.

Project Summary

Provide us with a short summary of the project the team is working on in no more than 150 words. This may be added to our website after the awards, or used within press articles, enabling us to share knowledge and promote best practice across the Greater Manchester system. (150 words max)

Your Project

Provide us with a short, non-technical summary of the project you are working on. The summary should include information about the impact and benefits to patients or the wider public and should include evidence. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative data, which may include patient or professional testimonies is also acceptable. Please indicate if any data is unsuitable to be shared externally. (500 words max)

Working Collaboratively

Collaboration is something we are proud of in Greater Manchester and we regularly see a range of individuals, teams and organisations working together. Explain who was involved in your work and how a team approach was used to the benefit of the project. You should also include information on involvement with people affected by cancer or members of the public and how they have been able to help to shape your work. (400 words max)

Inequalities

Health inequalities exist throughout our population and reducing these are a critical element to improve the health and cancer outcomes of our population. Discuss the considerations given to reducing inequality as part of your nominees research/projects, along with the inequalities identified and how the work has addressed these.  (400 words max)

Other Comments

Include any other comments, information or testimonials that you feel are relevant to your submission that will help the judges to understand why you should be considered for this award. (200 words max)

Upload Image

Please include one image with your entry, which will be used on our website if your entry is shortlisted.

Accepted file types are .pdf, .jpg, .gif and .png only. Maximum file size is 15mb.

Please do not include any confidential information within your entry form. If you have confidential information included within your entry, please contact gmcancer.comms@nhs.net for help submitting information securely.

What Happens Next?

The closing date for entries is Friday 27th February.

Judging will take place during March, and if you are shortlisted you will be notified by Thursday 26th March.

Shortlisted teams will be required to make someone available to be filmed for a 1 minute film talking about their entry. This film will be available on our website, and will be used by patient and carer representatives to vote for the Patients Choice Award. Filming will take place on Tuesday 7th or Wednesday 8th April at a convenient location.

Each shortlisted team will be invited to the Awards Ceremony on the evening of 12th May 2026, where the winners will be announced.  The ceremony will take place at the Deansgate Hotel (formerly the Hilton), Manchester.

THE JUDGES DECISION WILL BE FINAL.