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Telephone Support Line 0800 092 7640

Available Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm

Telephone Support Line 0800 092 7640

Available Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm

Support
Education
Equipment
Research

Telephone Support Line 0800 092 7640

Available Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm

Big C at the Norwich 100
Fundraise

You may wish to fundraise yourself, with family and friends or within your local group. Whatever the idea, be it large or small, we know you will have a great time raising vital funds for Big C.

Big C Shops
Shops

Did you know we have 12 charity shops across Norfolk including a dedicated Craft Supplies Shop, Furniture Emporium, Bridal and a high-end fashion Boutique? We are always looking for high quality donations.

Big C Volunteers
Volunteer

We are always looking for volunteers including in our Support Centres, shops and at our Fundraising events. Volunteering is a great way to spend some free time, meet new people, and gain experience.

Nearer to Home Appeal

Help us build a new Cancer Support Centre in Norwich. Support our vision to bring greater cancer care nearer to home. Donate now.

Home > Research > About our research

About our research

Our Research Advisory Panel

Our Peer Review Process

Excellent research governance is a vital part of Big C’s decision making. The role of our independent Research Advisory Panel is to provide expert independent advice on research grant applications submitted to Big C so that Trustees are well informed in their decision making. All of our RAP members and external peer reviewers are asked to declare any conflicts of interest and adhere to the Panel’s Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct for Advisory Panels. Following peer review, the RAP will discuss and rank the applications for funding for consideration by our Grants Committee and final approval comes from our Board of Trustees. 

The current members of our Research Advisory Panel are:

Dr Jean Craig

Research Adviser,
National Institute for Health Research

Professor Dylan Edwards

Retired Executive Dean,
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences,
Chair of Cancer Studies,
UEA

Professor Sue Fairweather-Tait

Norwich Medical School,
UEA and Research Group Member,
Musculoskeletal Medicine

Dr Ian Johnson (Panel Chair)

Emeritus Fellow,
Quadram Institute Biosciences

Dr Ralf Zwacka

Reader, School of Biological Sciences,
University of Essex

Our Peer Review Process

Applications will be subject to an initial desktop review in order to establish that application criteria have been met and will then be submitted for peer review by up to three or more experts in the relevant field. Applicants are asked to suggest three independent reviewers to review their application and may also exclude up to three reviewers from this process. Big C reserves the right to forward applications to the charity’s own external reviewers for review.

Peer reviewers will use a standard form to assess each application and will score against the following criteria:

  • Overall rating
  • Originality
  • Scientific quality
  • Track record of principal applicant

Peer reviewers will also be asked to consider whether:

  • Big C is the most appropriate funding body
  • The duration of support and salaries/expenses are appropriate
  • The study has the appropriate statistical support
  • In relation to the application they have any conflicts of interest

For PhD projects, the peer reviewers will be asked to comment on the track record of applicants leading PhD projects by asking specific questions regarding their experience in this area.

The standard peer review form includes a section in which the peer reviewers are asked to give an assessment, suitable for anonymous transmission to the applicants as feedback. This section asks peer reviewers to give their opinion of the strengths and weaknesses of:

  • The importance of the research topic.
  • Its originality.
  • The scientific quality (including the clarity of the research objectives, the suitability of the methods chosen and whether the planned experiments are likely to yield decisive results).
  • The track record of the principal applicant in this area of cancer research.

All applicants will be provided with feedback on their application however Big C will not enter into further communication (by telephone or email) or correspondence regarding the decisions of the Board.

Other Big C research pages

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Support & Information

Help for you: Cancer Support & Information

Find out how Big C can support you and your family if you’ve been affected by cancer.

We can help to improve your quality of life, physical health, and mental wellbeing.

Big C Fundraising

Help for us: Fundraising, Gifts & In Memory and Volunteering

Some people take to the skies, run, jump, walk, swim and cycle whilst others make tea, bake cakes or shave heads.

What will you do to make a difference?

About Big C Cancer charity: Read our story

Two men from Norfolk who found themselves with cancer and having to travel for treatment, vowed local people would have access to the best treatment and support … and in 1980 the Big C Appeal was formed.

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Big C is the working name of The Big C Appeal Ltd. Registered charity, number 281730 and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales, number 1521441. VAT Registration number 688 7342 76. Registered office: Big C, Centrum, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UG.

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