Announcing grants into exciting and pioneering research

The Little Princess Trust is proud to announce the funding of nine innovative research projects through our New Ideas grant scheme.

The New Ideas Grant scheme is designed to support exciting and pioneering research in childhood cancer, focusing on early-stage projects that may struggle to find traditional funding. With our support, the New Ideas projects could provide the first steps towards vital new treatments.

Wendy Tarplee-Morris, one of our founders, said: “October marks the 10-year anniversary of The Little Princess Trust’s research funding journey.

“It has been a whirlwind trip, and we have funded so many brilliant research projects in the past decade.

"It is fantastic to be adding another nine research projects to that list – the most ever funded through our New Ideas scheme.

"There are some fantastic ideas, from starving cancer cells to investigating why new treatments haven’t been found for childhood brain tumours.

"I can’t wait to see the results from this year’s talented researchers.”

The Little Princess Trust has worked in partnership with CCLG: The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association over the past 10 years as part of its funding of paediatric research.

Ashley Ball-Gamble, CEO of CCLG, said: “Some of the most important advances in childhood cancer research begin with bold new ideas.

"We're proud to contribute our research expertise to a partnership that creates opportunities for pioneering research and helps shape the future of childhood cancer treatment.”

The 2026 New Ideas projects will explore:

1.      Using DNA damage to target osteosarcoma – Dr Sophie Postel-Vinay at University College London

2.      Targeting childhood brain tumours from within: using a smart gel to deliver immunotherapy – Dr Karolina Dziemidowicz at University College London

3.      Unlocking the potential of brain tumour MRI scans – Dr John Apps at University of Birmingham

4.      Investigating an immunotherapy combination treatment for neuroblastoma - Professor Suzanne Turner at University of Cambridge

5.      Understanding how childhood medulloblastoma begins to identify new treatments - Dr Sara Badodi at  Queen Mary University of London

6.     PRECISION-CSF: A new test to help personalise treatment for children with leukaemia – Professor Chris Halsey at University of Glasgow

7.     Protecting immune cells from acute myeloid leukaemia – Dr Carmela De Santo at University of Birmingham

8.    Does radiotherapy make aggressive childhood brain tumours resistant to further treatment? – Dr Thomas Oliver at University College London

9.    Activating a protein to make immunotherapy more effective for neuroblastoma  – Professor Aymen Al-Shamkhani at University of Southampton