NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call Overview
In 2021, the NHS Cancer Programme at NHS England joined forces with SBRI Healthcare to identify and implement mature innovations into front-line NHS settings to benefit patients by detecting cancer earlier and improving the efficiency of diagnostic services. The support of Cancer Alliances plays a key role in enabling spread and adoption.
In February 2026 NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care published the National Cancer Plan for England. The plan sets ambitions for the next 10 years to make England a global leader in cancer care. Two of the key ambitions are:
• The NHS will meet the Cancer Waiting Time (CTW) standards by 2029
• Three quarters of people diagnosed with cancer will be cancer-free, or living well with cancer after 5 years by 2035
Innovation is a central part of the NHS Cancer Programme’s strategy to achieve the National Cancer Plan ambitions.
Read about the awardees of NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call 3
Read about the awardees of NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call 2
Read about the awardees of NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call 1
