Cancer Research Horizons

Cancer Research Horizons is the innovation engine and commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK, with access to over £400m of cutting-edge cancer research annually. Its Ventures team bridges the translational funding gap between academic cancer research and commercial investment by providing pre-seed and seed capital (£50k–£1.5m per investment) alongside venture creation support — including entrepreneurial training, IP advice, expert networks, and management team building — to early-stage oncology start-ups sourced from CRUK's 4,000-strong researcher network and global Cancer Grand Challenges programme. The investment remit spans therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and data-driven/AI solutions, with decisions driven by potential patient impact rather than market returns. As an evergreen, philanthropy-backed fund not subject to market fluctuations, Cancer Research Horizons takes risks others cannot, adopting novel and challenging ideas with the potential to save and enhance lives. All returns are reinvested in the fund and cancer research, and the organisation actively catalyses co-investment to maximise the chances of portfolio companies attracting follow-on capital.