World Cancer Research Fund

WCRF UK is a cancer prevention charity that was founded in 1990.[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG223145 "World Cancer Research Fund"]. britishmuseum.org. WCRF UK is an active member of the World Cancer Research Fund International network.[https://www.wcrf-uk.org/about-us/who-we-are/ "Who We Are"]. wcrf-uk.org. The network comprises WCRF UK, American Institute for Cancer Research, Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds in the Netherlands and World Cancer Research Fund Hong Kong.

WCRF UK creates awareness of the relationship between diet, physical activity, weight and cancer risk. It focuses on funding research into diet and cancer prevention and to consolidate and interpret global research to create practical messages on reducing risk of cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund International (global network) has published several expert reports with research from WCRF UK.[https://www.wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Summary-of-Third-Expert-Report-2018.pdf "Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: A Global Perspective. A Summary of the Third Expert Report"]. wcrf.org.

The first expert report, Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global perspective was published in 1997 and examined all the available evidence on the links between cancer and diet. In November 2007, the WCRF global network published Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. Also known as the Second Expert Report. Following an initial sweep of half a million research studies eventually, 7,000 were deemed relevant and met the quality criteria for definitive conclusions to be drawn about cancer prevention. A panel of 21 experts then made 10 recommendations for reducing cancer risk.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7069914.stm BBC article on the report]

The launch of the Second Expert Report was a big news story in the UK. The report was described by the New Scientist magazine as a “landmark in our understanding of diet and cancer” while The Economist said: “It is the most rigorous study so far on the links between food, physical activity and cancer”.[http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10062421 The Economist: How to Prevent Cancers] Project Director of the report Professor Martin Wiseman said: “Our recommendations are based on the best science available. They are recommendations, not commandments. The whole point of them is to give people the information they need to make their everyday choices informed ones.”[https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/cancer-and-the-bacon-sarnie-400174.html The Independent: Cancer and the bacon sarnie]

In February 2009, the WCRF global network published Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, a companion document to the Second Expert Report.[http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/ Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention] It included 48 recommendations for changes that different groups in society can make to help prevent cancer. It also included a preventability study that estimated that a third of the most common cancers in the UK could be prevented through diet, physical activity and weight management.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7908675.stm BBC article about Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention]

In 2018, the World Cancer Research Fund International published its Third Expert Report which concluded that diet, nutrition, obesity and low physical activity are modifiable risk factors for cancer.{{cite journal|vauthors=Papadimitriou N, Markozannes G, Kanellopoulou A, Critselis E, Alhardan S, Karafousia V, Kasimis JC, Katsaraki C, Papadopoulou A, Zografou M, Lopez DS, Chan DS, Kyrgiou M, Ntzani E, Cross AJ, Marrone MT, Platz EA, Gunter MJ, Tsilidis KK |year=2021|title=An umbrella review of the evidence associating diet and cancer risk at 11 anatomical sites|journal=Nature Communications|volume=12|issue=1|page=4579|doi=10.1038/s41467-021-24861-8|pmid=34321471|pmc=8319326 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.4579P}} The report was published on the behalf of WCRF UK, WCRF Netherlands and the American Institute for Cancer Research.[https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/global-cancer-update-programme/resources-and-toolkits/ "Resources and toolkits"]. wcrf.org.

WCRF UK is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and around 95% of their funding comes from the UK public.

WCRF UK spends about £6.2 million per year on scientific research, health policy and education programmes.[http://www.wcrf-uk.org/research/index.php WCRF website]

WCRF International manages and administers the research programme on behalf of WCRF UK. UK researchers can apply for Investigator Initiated grants for a maximum of £250,000 for up to four years or for Seed grants for a maximum of £60,000 for two years.

WCRF UK also works with Imperial College London on its Continuous Update Project.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wcrf-uk.org/uk/our-research/our-continuous-update-project|title = Our Continuous Update Project|date = 2 July 2014}} This is a process designed to keep the evidence on diet and cancer current as new evidence emerges.

A 2025 umbrella review found that adherence to the 2007 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) dietary recommendations lowers risk of all cancers.{{cite journal|author=Yin JL, Li YZ, Wang R, Song XJ, Zhao LG, Wang DD, Liu JC, Liu PC, Wang JY, Shi YC, Liu FH, Chen X, Sun MH, Men YX, Xu J, Ma S, Qin Y, Gao S, Zhao YH, Gao X, Qi L, Zhang XH, Gong TT, Wu QJ.|year=2025|title=Dietary patterns and risk of multiple cancers: umbrella review of meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies|journal=The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002916524014151|volume=121|issue=2|pages=213-223|doi=10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.11.020|url-access=subscription}}

WCRF UK's Great Grub Club programme is aimed at four to seven-year-olds and their parents. According to its website, its aim is to encourage healthy eating and an active lifestyle in a fun and informative way.[http://www.greatgrubclub.com Great Grub Club website];

WCRF UK produces publications that aim to translate scientific research into language that is easy to understand, providing information about the links between lifestyle and cancer and advice on how to make healthy changes.[http://www.wcrf-uk.org/preventing_cancer/publications/index.php WCRF UK website: publications section]

A newsletter for supporters is published four times a year that includes information about scientific findings and gives practical advice about making healthy lifestyle changes.

WCRF UK provides information for health professionals to help them educate their patients. This includes publishing Informed, a newsletter aimed at health professionals.[http://www.wcrf-uk.org/preventing_cancer/health_professionals/informed.php Informed page of WCRF UK website] There is also a specific section for health professionals on the WCRF UK website.[http://www.wcrf-uk.org/preventing_cancer/health_professionals/index.php WCRF UK website health professionals section]

• {{Cite web|date=2018|title=Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: A Global Perspective|url=https://www.wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Summary-of-Third-Expert-Report-2018.pdf|website=World Cancer Research Fund|language=en-GB|archive-date=December 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204074333/https://www.wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Summary-of-Third-Expert-Report-2018.pdf|url-status=live}}
• {{Cite web|date=2018|title=Meat, fish and dairy products and the risk of cancer|url=https://www.wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Meat-fish-and-dairy-products.pdf|website=World Cancer Research Fund|language=en-GB|archive-date=December 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227205424/https://www.wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Meat-fish-and-dairy-products.pdf|url-status=live}}

• American Institute for Cancer Research
• Cancer in the United Kingdom

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.wcrf-uk.org Official website]

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Cancer organisations based in the United Kingdom

Category:Cancer research organizations

Category:Organizations established in 1990