Cancer research charity to close amid ‘risk of operational failure’ fears

The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is to close after 22 years amid concerns around its long term financial future.

In an open letter the charity’s chair Fiona Driscoll said that “uncertainty in the wider economic and research environment has had an impact”.

“NCRI consulted widely with stakeholders last year to produce a strategy fit for the future,” she added.

“This identified a compelling set of priorities but has raised significant questions around the sustainability of NCRI’s operating and funding model, which we have not been able to resolve in such a way which would deliver long term viability for the organisation.

“Reluctantly therefore, the board decided that the risk of operational failure was too great to continue.”

Since 2018 the charity’s income has fallen from £2.56m to £1.58m.

Driscoll acknowledged the decision by the London headquartered charity is having a “huge impact” on the charity’s staff.

The charity, which focuses on identifying and addressing gaps in cancer research, is also to consult with its partners to see if some of its work can be taken on by other organisations.

“The board is now working on the required steps to wind down the charity, identifying and securing our assets; financial, data and IP,” she added.

“The trustees have an obligation to apply these assets in a manner which is consistent with NCRI’s research charitable purposes, and as part of this exercise we will be consulting with partners and other stakeholders, who might take forward some of NCRI’s activities.”

Important news: NCRI is winding down after 22 remarkable years. Read more about this difficult decision here. https://t.co/VBf22H0HzC
— NCRI Partnership (@NCRI_partners) June 26, 2023

According to the Charity Register NCRI’s income was £1.58m for the year ending March 2022, however its spending over the same period was considerably more at £1.77m.

Its spending has outstripped its income every year since 2018 except 2019, when its income was £2.85m and it spent £2.53m.

As of the end of March 2022 it employed 26 staff, two with an income of between £90,000 to £100,000 a year and three with an income of between £60,000 and £70,000.