Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund

The Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund is a UK-registered charity established in January 1992 by Virginia Bates following the death of her husband, actor Ralph Bates, from pancreatic cancer. Its core mission is to advance health and save lives by funding biomedical and clinical research into the causes, early diagnosis, and treatments for pancreatic cancer and related illnesses, while providing relief to sufferers. Driven by personal tragedy and the disease's poor survival rates, the fund emphasises scientific rigour, patient compassion, integrity, and prudent stewardship—evidenced by allocating over 90% of donations to research, no trustee remuneration, and reserves for future commitments. It stands out for its highly targeted focus, grassroots origins, and track record of supporting peer-reviewed advances, such as novel drug combinations and antibiotic-induced tumour cell death at institutions like St George’s University of London.

The fund exclusively supports project-based research on pancreatic cancer, including diagnostics, therapies, chemotherapy resistance mechanisms, and clinical innovations, benefiting current patients and the public through improved prevention and cures. It prioritises high-impact, translational studies at universities and NHS hospitals, with no support for general health charities, core costs, capacity building, or non-research interventions.

Eligible entities are established academic institutions and NHS research units in England, Wales, and Scotland, with a proven track record in pancreatic oncology; it does not accept unsolicited applications, instead awarding grants via direct trustee engagement and pre-selected relationships. Typical grants range from £20,000 to £215,000, with no open deadlines, application rounds, or published schedules—decisions occur internally through trustee meetings. This evidence-led, invitation-only approach differentiates it as a specialist funder committed to addressing chronic underinvestment in pancreatic cancer research.