TRAINING

We offer more than just research funding. We invest in the next generation of researchers to help drive future progress in early detection and interception.

A UNIQUE TRAINING OFFERING

As part of the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED), researchers can access training programmes, studentships, mentoring and other opportunities to collaborate across our centres.

Our dedicated funding helps researchers build skills, expand their networks and advance their careers in cancer early detection.

Since 2019, we’ve funded:

PhD studentships

Pathway Awards for postdoctoral researchers transitioning to independence

Skills Exchange Awards for early career researchers seeking to develop their skills at other ACED centres

TRAINING AWARDS

If you're interested in participating in any of our training awards, contact your local programme manager to discuss opportunities.

Meet your key contact

PhD studentships

Overview

Our PhD studentships offer researchers the opportunity to develop their careers in cancer early detection as part of an international research network. We offer clinical and non-clinical PhD studentships in alternate years.

ACED PhD studentships are awarded by a host institution and supported by training, collaboration, travel and co-supervision opportunities across the Alliance. Students can draw on expertise from researchers across disciplines, institutions and countries.

Students co-create their research project with their chosen supervisor, shaping a programme of work that reflects their expertise and research interests. They can also work with a co-supervisor at a different member centre creating opportunities to access specialist expertise and gain experience in different research environments.

Students are encouraged to undertake practical training in different disciplines relevant to early detection. During their first year, non-clinical students can rotate through research groups at their own or other ACED centres, helping them broaden their scientific knowledge and professional networks.

Eligibility

Open to prospective PhD student applicants based at our member centres.

Timelines

Timelines vary by centre. If you’re interested in applying, contact your local training manager to discuss opportunities.

Pathway Awards

Overview

This award supports early career researchers to lead their first project as principal investigator. Through co-mentorship across at least two ACED centres, recipients can develop multidisciplinary skills, build collaborative networks and generate preliminary data for future fellowship applications.

Alongside delivering a research project, recipients receive training and professional development to help build an independent career in early detection research.

The award covers a postdoctoral salary, research costs, training and travel expenses for 24 months (or part-time equivalent). 

Eligibility

Open to postdocs at our member centres. You must have completed your PhD or equivalent higher research degree.

Timelines

Applications open - May
Application deadline - September 
Interviews - October/November
Outcomes communicated - December/January

Explore some of our previously funded pathway awards

Skills Exchange and Development Travel Awards

Overview

Our Skills Exchange Awards enable PhD students and early career researchers to spend time at another ACED centre to learn new techniques, develop specialist expertise and build collaborative networks across the Alliance.

The award provides funding for research expenses, together with a stipend to cover travel and accommodation for up to three months. 

Eligibility

Open to researchers at our member centres.

Timelines

Applications are typically due in November, but these awards may run more than once per year if funding is available. Outcomes are typically communicated within three months of applying. For more information, contact your local training manager.

MEET ONE OF OUR PHD STUDENTS

With the rotations, I discovered a lot of different areas of science. Also, I think the most important part of the rotations was meeting wonderful people. Everyone was very kind, welcoming with open arms. And essentially, pushed me out of my comfort zone.

- Lucie Gourmet, former ACED-funded PhD student at our University College London Centre

Opening doors to new opportunities

As part of the first year of her ACED PhD, Lucie had the chance to do rotations in several different research groups within the ACED centres at University College London and the University of Cambridge and former ACED centre at the Canary Center at Stanford. ACED students are strongly encouraged to undertake rotations in different groups to complement their PhD training. This provides them with the opportunity to develop broader scientific knowledge and expand their own career network.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES

If you're interested in participating in any of our training programmes, contact your local programme manager to discuss opportunities.

Explore our key contacts

Early Detection Training Programme

Overview

The ACED Early Detection Training Programme is an online course for PhD students and early career researchers new to the field. The programme provides comprehensive background knowledge of different scientific disciplines relevant to the early detection field.

The programme consists of 30 x one-hour live lectures divided into six modules:

Foundations of cancer
Cancer metrics
Cancer detection tools
Cancer screening
Early diagnosis
Cancer in the wider context

Explore the programme syllabus

Eligibility

Open to PhD students and early career researchers interested in early detection who are based at one of our member centres.

Timelines

Roughly October/November to July annually

ACED Masterclasses

Overview

We host a regular one-hour lecture series delivering masterclasses in methodology, covering techniques underpinning our latest research or on topics relevant to our strategic themes. Masterclasses are recorded and you can access them online.

Access the masterclass recordings

Eligibility

Open to researchers at our member centres.

Timelines

Every other month

ACED Summer School

Overview

The ACED Summer School is a virtual two to three day event for PhD students and early career researchers. The course focuses on one key early detection theme each year and offers approximately three hours of educational content per day.

Through a series of taught content and interactive sessions, attendees will benefit from practical, in-depth training on a specific theme as well as the opportunity to network with other researchers.

Eligibility

Open to anyone interested in early detection.

Timelines

Timings for the next ACED Summer School to be announced.

HEAR FROM A TRAINING PROGRAMME PARTICIPANT

As a PhD student in basic science, it was invaluable to see the sheer breadth of the early detection field through the Training Programme. Across these lectures, I learned about the challenges in early detection and how exciting new opportunities might result in new advances.

- Callum Oddy, ACED-funded PhD student in Professor Marnix Jansen’s lab at University College London Cancer Institute

Seeing the bigger picture in early detection

Callum is a PhD student working in basic science within the field of early detection. While much of his daily research is highly specialised, the programme allowed him to step back and see the wider early detection landscape. Throughout the lecture series, Callum heard directly from researchers working across the field and gained insight into the journey from discovery research to clinical implementation. He found particular value in understanding how different disciplines, from biomarker discovery to clinical implementation, work together to improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.

KEY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about these initiatives, please reach out to the appropriate training programme contact for your location.

Director of Training – Nora Pashayan

Nora is Professor of the Epidemiology of Ageing at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust.