Team CANCAN is tackling one of cancer’s least understood complications: cachexia New findings published today in @NatureMedicine, led by @EdReznik (@MSKCancerCenter), highlight the potential to predict risk of a cachectic event in the hopes of enabling patients and their clinicians to try and get ahead of this devastating condition. Read our interview with Ed to learn more about the latest research: bit.ly/4hVzSDC Team CANCAN is co-led by @MarcusDGon, @JanowitzTobias and @EileenWhitePhD, and is funded by @CR_UK and the @theNCI through Cancer Grand Challenges.

How do we move the dial towards the prevention of gastroesophageal cancer? In @NatureRevCancer, @CharlesSwanton et al. discuss the two targeted Cancer Grand Challenges designed to address critical unmet needs in gastroesophageal cancer. 🔗bit.ly/4e5n2kT Applications are now open, with up to $34M in funding available for bold, interdisciplinary teams from around the world to take on these challenges. Visit our website for more information. bit.ly/4xfm78b

A school trip sparked Reuven Agami's curiosity about science 🔬 Today, he's leading team ILLUMINE as they take on the dark proteome challenge. In our latest Stories Behind the Science interview, Reuven, from @NKI_nl spoke to us about the role of curiosity, serendipity and perseverance in scientific discovery, and shares where he hopes the team’s work will lead. Read the interview at bit.ly/4ytG5Nx ILLUMINE is funded by @CR_UK, @theNCI, @CancerResearch and @KiKa8118 through Cancer Grand Challenges.

New conference announced! 📅 29 September - 1 October 2027 📍Royal Society, London Full programme, registration details and speaker line-up will be announced soon. 🔗 Find out more and join the waitlist: bit.ly/4y28v0y

"Everybody thought I was crazy." When Leanne Li, Team Lead of InteroCANCEption, decided to pursue an unconventional research idea at @TheCrick, she took a chance on something she truly believed in. Her story is a reminder that some of the most exciting advances begin with questions others might dismiss. Read Leanne’s full interview at bit.ly/4A2c88U 📹 Includes footage from Christopher Agathangelou

Last week, we announced two new Cancer Grand Challenges on gastroesophageal cancers. What are we looking for? ➡️ Bold ideas ➡️ International research teams ➡️ Diverse expertise from across and beyond the field With awards of up to $34m available, now is the time to think big. Learn more and apply by 24 November: bit.ly/46DSseg

One bold idea can change everything. After discovering that some autoantibodies can cause severe COVID-19 disease, Paul Bastard is now leading team ATLAS to explore whether autoantibodies also influence cancer risk. The team's research could transform how we think about cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Read Paul’s full interview at bit.ly/4A4Og4B 📹 Includes footage from @InstitutImagine

📢 Two new Cancer Grand Challenges 📢 We're calling on international, multidisciplinary research teams to come together and propose bold, innovative approaches to some of the most complex and pressing challenges in gastroesophageal cancer. With more than 1 million lives lost to gastric and oesophageal cancers each year globally, the need for bold new solutions has never been greater. Applications close 24 November. Discover the new challenges: bit.ly/4xfm78b Winning teams will be funded by the Torrey Coast Foundation and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), through Cancer Grand Challenges.

The stories behind the science 🥼 In our new interview series, we sit down with the newest Cancer Grand Challenges Team Leads to explore the moments, motivations and unexpected turns that shaped their careers. Ludmil Alexandrov, Team Lead of CAUSE, shares the journey that took him from computer science to cancer research, via an assisted living facility and a brief consulting career, and reflects on the legacy he hopes team CAUSE will leave. Read Ludmil’s full interview at bit.ly/3UEKXAZ 📹 Includes footage from @UCSDMedSchool

Cancer Grand Challenges conferences are where bold thinking meets scientific collaboration 🤝 We bring together world-leading researchers from diverse disciplines to explore new findings, exchange ideas, build connections, and help shape where the science goes next. Be part of our next conference on extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in 2027! Register your interest today 📷 bit.ly/4zJLKk8

📢 New 2027 conference announced! Building on the success of our inaugural conference in 2025, the second edition of the Cancer Grand Challenges Conference: Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) will return from 22-24 June 2027 at @royalsociety in London. Stay tuned for speaker and programme announcements, and register your interest today ➡️ bit.ly/4wGXrFz

We are delighted to see team CANCAN featured in @Nature, highlighting how a wave of new research is reshaping our understanding of cancer cachexia. Congratulations to co-team leads @MarcusDGon (@nyulangone) and @JanowitzTobias (@CSHL), alongside co-investigators @MariamJHanjani (@ucl ) and @EdReznik (@MSKCancerCenter), on this recognition. Team CANCAN is funded by @CR_UK and the @NCI through Cancer Grand Challenges.

Final call for abstracts! 🔬 Spatial biology is transforming how we understand cancer, from tumour evolution and the microenvironment to treatment responses. This September, the Cancer Grand Challenges Conference: Spatial Biology will bring together global leaders in cancer research, tech development and clinical practice for three days of breakthrough science, bold ideas and new collaborations. There will also be editors from leading scientific journals attending, making this a fantastic opportunity to share your work with a broad and influential community across cancer research and publishing. Submit your abstract by Sunday 31 May for the opportunity to present your research and be part of the conversation shaping the future of spatial biology in cancer. 📍 The Royal Society, London 📅 1–3 September 2026 ⏰ Abstract deadline: Sunday 31 May Submit your abstract and secure your place ➡️ lnkd.in/eM7b6GX5 #SpatialBiology #CancerResearch #ShaharAlon, #BerndBodenmiller, #DarioBressan, #RongFan, #JosephineBunch, #FeiChen, #ElizabethHillman, #JoakimLundeberg, #DanaPe'er, #SinemSaka, #PeterSorger, #OliverStegle, #JasonSwedlow, #AdamTaylor, #SarahTeichmann, #NicholasWalton

Final places are still available to attend the Cancer Grand Challenges Conference: Cancer and the host If you’re interested in exploring cancer as a systemic disease and joining thought leaders from across the cancer research spectrum to discuss and debate how the unique biology of each individual shapes cancer development and treatment response, this is a meeting you won’t want to miss. Register now to secure your place: eventbrite.co.uk/e/grand-cha… 🗓️ Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 June 2026 🚨 Registration closes Friday 1 May 2026 📍 The Royal Society, London @MarcusDGon, Professor Caroline Dive. CBE, @diggy5353 , @giampazolias, Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, @Joycelab, @LewisLabMSKCC, @lynchielydia , Stephen o'rahilly, Marco Sandri, Erica Sloan, Claudio Vernieri, Ashani Weeraratna, @EileenWhitePhD and Frank Winkler @CR_UK @NCICancerTrials

Drawing on a decade of experience from Cancer Grand Challenges, we set out a practical framework for designing, supporting, and evaluating large‑scale collaborative research. Published in @CellCellPress, we examine what it truly takes to enable global team science - and how rethinking structures, incentives, and culture can catalyse transformative discovery. These include: 🔬 Challenge‑led science can galvanise the community around the toughest questions 🌍  Global funding partnerships are essential to resilient, future‑proof research 🤝 Team design, leadership, culture, and data sharing have to go alongside scientific excellence ⭐ Evaluation and credit systems must evolve to truly reward collaboration in the team science era Read the full commentary and join the conversation on the future of global team science: sciencedirect.com/science/ar…