Knæk Cancer - muligheder for forskningsstøtte

Hvert år i uge 43 samler Kræftens Bekæmpelse og TV2 ind til Knæk Cancer.

Pengene, der samles ind, går til forskning i kræft, forebyggelse og støtte til patienter.

Hvert år er der en række forskellige temaer, der kan søges forskningsstøtte til. Det er Kræftens Bekæmpelses forretningsudvalg og hovedbestyrelse, der beslutter de temaer, der skal have særligt fokus ved årets Knæk Cancer.

Her kan du se alle temaerne, de temaer der bliver slået op og læse mere om, hvordan du søger penge fra Knæk Cancer til dit projekt.

Knæk Cancer 2025

Vær opmærksom på, at ansøgningsfristerne  er ændret til:

• Knæk Cancer uddelinger: 21. januar 
• Unge Talentfulde kræftforskere og postdoc-stipendier: 20. maj 

The Danish Cancer Society allocates up to DKK 62 million for strategic cancer research and development projects
 
More people are being diagnosed with cancer, and more are surviving or living longer with cancer. Many will need different treatment programmes, differentiated treatment options and support throughout the process. Additionally, many will experience late effects or relapses.

Future challenges for the Danish healthcare system require research and innovation in various cancer types and how they affect patients. This is essential for continuously developing specific diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation, and care options and effectively preventing cancer.

With this call, the Danish Cancer Society wishes to support patient-centred clinical projects focusing on research in new technologies and treatment methods, improved interventions for cancer patients and their families or social inequalities in health behaviour related to cancer risk.

Read more about the four focus areas and specific requirements below.

Which projects are eligible for funding
The project must be relevant to cancer and, at a minimum, fall within one of the following five effort areas

More knowledge about cancer
New knowledge brings new possibilities, so we must find more answers to how cancer occurs and develops

More people need to avoid cancer
Approximately 4 out of 10 cancer cases are preventable, so we need to work towards more people living cancer-free lives

Cancer must be detected in time
Cancer detected early can be cured, so we must improve early detection

Better treatment 
Effective treatment improves survival rates, so we must find the best treatments as quickly as possible

A better life with cancer
Cancer is challenging, so we must be better at helping everyone and ensuring a well-functioning cancer course

In 2025, the Danish Cancer Society especially wishes to support patient-centred and clinical research and development projects, focusing on the following focus areas
 
1. New innovative technologies and treatment options
Support for research in new innovative treatments and technological solutions that potentially can improve cancer treatment and prevention in Denmark.

In the future healthcare system, there is a need for new treatment methods and technologies to improve the cancer field.

Many types of cancer are difficult to treat, which requires new ways of thinking. This applies to treatment methods enabling early interventions with a higher likelihood of cure and better patient outcomes, and to new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), which can potentially improve cancer treatment in several areas.

The focus area includes support for research in the development of new innovative treatments and technologies that can improve cancer treatment and prevention in Denmark, such as

• Development of new innovative treatments targeting early-stage disease to increase survival and decrease morbidity.
• New innovative treatments for late-stage cancers, including the development of new combination therapies and the discovery of new promising drug targets.
• Development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the cancer field, for example, concerning prevention, diagnosis, treatment, patient journeys, and follow-up.

The call is expected to result in research projects that can improve cancer treatment and develop new technologies that can reduce societal and human costs of cancer treatment and contribute to future-proofing the healthcare system.

The assessment committee will also look favourably at projects that bring knowledge from basic research into clinical practice.

2. Research into integrated health interventions for cancer patients
Support for projects that investigate new models for creating coherence in cancer patients' journeys from treatment to post-treatment settings, in particular better transitions between different health sectors and disciplines. Better communication between primary and secondary sectors, seamless transitions between disciplines, the establishment of care networks, improved rehabilitation programmes, and individualised palliative care at home and in institutions are key elements.

Our healthcare system is undergoing major changes, with more patients managed in the local community away from highly specialised hospitals.  The transition of responsibilities includes management of late effects, rehabilitation, and palliative care, which are preferably handled closer to home, ideally in an integrated health intervention across sectors.

This call aims to support projects that investigate new models for creating coherence in cancer patients' journeys from treatment to post-treatment settings, in particular better transitions between different health sectors and disciplines. Better communication between primary and secondary sectors, seamless transitions between disciplines, the establishment of care networks, improved rehabilitation programmes, and individualised palliative care at home and in institutions are key elements.

The projects should aim to increase continuity and quality in treatment, care, rehabilitation, and palliation, utilising the latest research and evidence-based practices to optimise patients' quality of life and treatment outcomes. Examples of possible projects could include

• Interventional projects around 'advanced care planning' or similar concepts
• New cross-sectoral collaboration models
• New models for professional skills development
• Improvements in late-effect management
• Rehabilitation and palliative care efforts in hospitals, municipalities, and general practice based on a data-driven foundation

3. Enhanced support for relatives and the family as a unit
Support for research projects that increase knowledge about which interventions can support the family as a unit and the relatives in work and everyday life in connection with a cancer illness – both during the diagnostic and treatment process, during late effects follow-up and rehabilitation process, as well as during any palliative care phase and as survivors.

There is increasing interest in involving relatives in tasks related to caring for their sick or weakened loved ones, which is why there is a need for specific support to projects, that contribute with more knowledge about how to best support and involve them.

Relatives can be a support and resource for the patients and the healthcare system in general during and after cancer illness, but relatives also have their own needs for being heard, involved, and guided throughout the process. A previous survey showed that it has negative consequences for cancer patients when they do not have support from relatives. Cancer patients without supporting relatives experience more psychological and physical issues after their cancer illness and receive less help.

Previous research has shown that when the family is supported as a unit, it is beneficial not only for the relatives but also for cancer patients who will experience fewer symptoms and less distress. However, these types of interventions are rarely implemented. Therefore, there is a need for research in developing, testing, and implementing models for sustainable partnerships with families. The involvement and support of relatives are also of great importance to the relatives' well-being. It is also particularly important to pay attention to vulnerable relatives, such as children and young people. Children and young people growing up in a family affected by cancer illness are more exposed to psychosocial stress and are particularly at risk for long-term stress reactions that affect adulthood. During adolescence, life with a parent who has cancer is particularly challenging due to the significant changes in this life phase, characterised by cognitive, social, and emotional development.

This call aims to support research projects that increase knowledge about which interventions can support the family as a unit and the relatives in work and everyday life in connection with a cancer illness – both during the diagnostic and treatment process, during late effects follow-up and rehabilitation process, as well as during any palliative care phase and as survivors. Preferentially, the proposal shall include testing of a concrete intervention.

 

4. Social inequality in health behaviour and risk factors related to cancer
Support for projects that can reduce inequality in cancer prevention nationally, regionally, or locally, focusing on the health of the least resourceful citizens potentially left behind due to social, financial, geographical, or other reasons. 

We have extensive knowledge about unequal exposure to risk factors and the consequences for disease development and cancer. However, solutions to reduce inequality and preventive measures are not implemented largely due to a lack of knowledge in this important area.

The Danish Cancer Society has focused on general inequality in cancer in its work with the indicators. This is the effort we build upon, but more needs to be done regarding inequality in prevention. We have solid knowledge and experience when it comes to social inequality in exposure to risk factors and the consequences that can lead to disease and cancer. We know that significant inequality arises before one is affected by illness. However, we know much less about interventions with the potential to effectively address social inequality.

This call aims to support research and testing of specific solutions to learn how to reduce inequality in cancer prevention. Examples of possible projects could include

• Data and research
  Collecting data on the effect of different cancer prevention initiatives with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups in different population groups. The aim is to gain knowledge on how best to maximize our prevention efforts to help the most vulnerable groups in society.
• Interventions aimed at increasing health education and awareness:
  The aim is to test how best to inform vulnerable groups on preventing risk factors such as smoking, alcohol, diet, and physical activity. A special focus will be on the most effective arenas to inform on health risks, e.g. local health centres, schools, workplaces etc. The possibility to do so in collaboration - or co-creation – with end users will also be a part of the criteria used to assess applications.  
• Tailored interventions in primary and secondary care
  Doctors and nurses in general practice and local health centres can be better equipped to identify and advise high-risk patients using risk assessment tools, motivational interviewing, etc. Additionally, it would be valuable to look at interventions targeted at patients in secondary care, where there may be a strong motivation to change lifestyle after or during illness.

Applicants can come from research environments within health, society, and the humanities. Projects could, for example, address the structural frameworks for health nationally, regionally, or locally and involve intervention research to develop initiatives that focus on the health of the least resourceful citizens potentially left behind due to social, financial, geographical, or other reasons.

General information for all calls
Funding is granted to high-quality projects lasting 1 to 3 years, with a clearly defined, relevant, and preferably patient-related purpose that enhances and strengthens our knowledge of cancer and clinical, psychosocial, and preventive efforts.

Efforts should be made to ensure that projects, if relevant and feasible, involve collaboration from a geographical and interdisciplinary perspective.

Assessment
Applications will be assessed by the Danish Cancer Society's scientific committees - People & Society (KBVU-MS) and Biology & Clinic (KBVU-BK) - and relevant ad hoc committees. The scientific committees may be supplemented with relevant expertise depending on the subject areas of the applications received. The assessment process is expected to be completed by the end of May 2025.

Applications will, among other things, be assessed based on the project's quality, originality, and feasibility. Results from granted research projects are expected to be published in relevant scientific and professional journals, while results from development projects, etc., are expected to be disseminated to relevant professional environments nationally and, if possible, internationally.

Practical information
Applicants must meet the requirements set by the Danish Cancer Society's ethical guidelines.

Any grants awarded will be subject to the Danish Cancer Society's standard funding and accounting terms, which can be found on our website. See below.

Funding will be conditional on sufficient Knæk Cancer 2025 funds being available.

Hvis du vil søge støtte

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