Apply for a grant

The Cancer Research Trust invites applications for grants to support New Zealand-based initiatives that will lead to improvements in the prevention, detection, diagnosis or treatment of cancer, or improvements in palliative care.

Call for Expressions of Interest

The Cancer Research Trust is proud to fund grants across the full spectrum of cancer research, including prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and improvements in palliative care. To evaluate the funding proposals submitted, the Trustees of Cancer Research Trust New Zealand maintain a committee of experts, known as the Cancer Research Trust Assessing Committee (CaRTAC).

CaRTAC operates as a single committee, without delegating work to subcommittees. To balance the need to manage workload and provide a diversity of perspectives, CaRTAC operates with around ten to twelve committee members.

CaRTAC maintains a balance of biomedical, clinical and public health research on the committee to enable assessment of the best quality science with the highest potential for impact. Our intent is to have a balance of research expertise that includes:

  • Discipline-based experts including biomedical, clinical, public health, and social science researchers who collectively cover themes as diverse as immunology, drug discovery, basic cancer biology, clinical trials and applied clinical research, cancer prevention, risk factors, health policy, and peoples’ lived experience of cancer.
  • Methodological experts including kaupapa Māori practitioners and researchers with expertise in tikanga, epidemiology, statistics, bioinformatics, health services, implementation and qualitative research;
  • Perspectives from a range of health care professionals involved in cancer care, including nursing research.

The broad skill mix of committee members ensures that all aspects of study design can be assessed, and whether the proposal offers an innovative solution to current gaps in evidence.

Expressions of Interest are currently sought from researchers willing to support Cancer Research Trust NZ through service on CaRTAC. Further information is available in the attached guidelines and application form. For a confidential chat please contact General Manager Michelle Sullivan via email michelle.sullivan@crtnz.org.nz.

CaRTAC Membership Guidelines

CaRTAC Membership Application form

Apply for Funding

We offer two funding rounds per year for conference and training course grants. There is one round per year for projects, senior fellowships and scholarships. From time to time, the Cancer Research Trust also invites applications in specific areas, through a Special Call for Applications.

Create an application at our online portal at grants.cancerresearchtrustnz.org.nz

2022 Special Call for Public Health Applications - NOW CLOSED

To address the relative lack of public health cancer research applications in recent years, the Trust Board issues a special call for applications in years when funding permits. For 2022, the Trust offered one $200k research project in the field of cancer-related public health.

The award was available for up to two years (up to $100k per year) but could be over a longer period if necessary. The closing date for applications was 1 April 2022. The Trust will seek to issue future calls for applications as donations permit.

Application closing dates


Award Closing Date Outcome Date

Special call for Public Health Research, 1 x $200,000 available for 2022

Fri 1 April 2022

to be announced

Professional Development Awards Round 1 (Max $3,000 for travel after 1 June 2022)

Fri 1 April 2022

late May 2022

Professional Development Awards Round 2 (Max $3,000 – for travel after Jan 1st 2023)



Thu 1 September 2022

early December 2022

Professional Development Event Application - conference or training course


Fri 1 April 2022

Thu 1 September 2022

late May 2022

early December 2022


Research Project Grants - for 2022 maximum is $80,000

Thu 1 September 2022

early December 2022

Special Purpose Grants - maximum $80,000

Thu 1 September 2022

early December 2022

Postgraduate Scholarship

Fri 30 September 2022

early December 2022

John Gavin Postdoctoral Fellowship

Fri 30 September 2022

early December 2022

Murray Jackson Clinical Fellowship (Medical)

Fri 30 September 2022

early December 2022

Clinical Fellowship for Cancer Nurses

Fri 30 September 2022

early December 2022

These initiatives can be in the field of cancer-related public health, or biomedical, clinical, epidemiological or psychosocial research & may relate to:

  • Education and training of students embarking on careers related to cancer care and/or cancer research
  • Continuing professional development of individuals involved in cancer care and/or cancer research
  • Event support for invited speakers at conferences or support for training courses
  • Hypothesis-based research in the field of cancer-related public health, cancer prevention, cancer treatment or the delivery of palliative care.
  • Other projects or activities related to cancer.

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