Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the world's largest independent funder of cancer research, has made a bold move in scholarly publishing by announcing it will no longer directly fund open access (OA) publishing fees. This decision, revealed on April 1, 2026, aims to redirect £5.2 million over the next three years straight into frontline cancer studies, addressing what CRUK describes as a broken and inefficient open access system dominated by high publisher profits and double payments.
The shift comes amid rising scrutiny of article processing charges (APCs)—fees authors or institutions pay publishers to make articles freely available online immediately upon publication. While CRUK remains committed to open access principles, it expects UK universities and research institutions to shoulder these costs through existing UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) block grants, which are specifically allocated for OA based on publication volumes, including CRUK-funded outputs.
🔬 The Announcement: Key Details of CRUK's Policy Shift
Dan Burkwood, CRUK's Director of Research Operations and Communications, laid out the rationale in a candid blog post. Starting April 1, 2026, for new grants and October 1, 2026, for ongoing ones, CRUK will cease covering APCs via block grants to institutions, core funding for its four research institutes, or underspend from project grants. This ends participation in the Charity Open Access Fund (COAF) and transformative agreements for CRUK outputs.
Researchers funded by CRUK must still comply with OA mandates: publish in fully OA or hybrid journals for immediate access (gold route) or self-archive the accepted manuscript in Europe PMC after a maximum six-month embargo (green route). Preprints are encouraged on OA platforms. Non-compliance risks future funding ineligibility.
- Gold OA: Version of Record (VoR) free immediately under CC BY license.
- Green OA: Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) deposited within six months.
- Hybrid Journals: Allowed if APC paid, but no CRUK funding.
This aligns with CRUK's updated policy, emphasizing efficiency while upholding DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) principles like narrative CVs over journal impact factors.
Why the Change? CRUK's Critique of the OA Landscape
CRUK argues the OA transition, accelerated by Plan S and UKRI policies since 2022, has faltered. Hybrid journals—subscription-based with an OA option—now dominate, leading to 'double-dipping': institutions pay subscriptions for access while funding APCs (~£2,000-£5,000 per article) for individual OA papers. Publisher margins hit 40%, with firms like Elsevier profiting immensely despite stagnant innovation.
Other pain points include predatory journals, slow peer review, and misaligned incentives prioritizing volume over quality. Burkwood noted: "We use donated money to fund our researchers... yet they still have to pay to access the majority of journals." As a charity committing £419 million annually to research in 2024/25, CRUK prioritizes patients over a system failing science.
In context, UK biomedical APCs average £3,000+, with cancer research outputs high-volume. CRUK's £5.2m OA spend represents a small but symbolic slice of its budget, underscoring systemic waste.
Financial Implications: £5.2m Redirected to Cancer Research
The savings—£5.2 million over three years—will fund more investigator-led projects, training fellowships, and infrastructure. CRUK's total research spend exceeds £400m yearly, making this a targeted efficiency gain. Institutions face added pressure: UKRI block grants (~£200m total across UK) allocate based on 2021-24 REF outputs, but CRUK papers (~10-15% of biomed) now compete without dedicated charity top-up.
| Funder | Annual OA Spend (Est.) | Policy Shift Impact |
|---|---|---|
| CRUK | £1.7m/year | No direct APC funding |
| UKRI | £60m+ block grants | Institutions cover CRUK outputs |
| Wellcome | £20m+ | Immediate OA mandated |
Universities like UCL, Edinburgh, and Bristol, receiving CRUK block grants historically, must reallocate amid stretched budgets.
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
What This Means for UK Cancer Researchers
CRUK grantees—over 5,000 projects yearly—must adapt. Gold OA remains preferred but self-funded via UKRI grants or institutional deals. Green OA offers a fallback, proven effective: 80%+ biomed compliance via repositories. Preprints via bioRxiv or medRxiv bridge immediacy gaps.
Step-by-step compliance:
- Check journal eligibility (CC BY, Europe PMC deposit).
- Seek institutional transformative agreements (e.g., Springer, Wiley).
- Self-archive AAM post-embargo if needed.
- Acknowledge CRUK grant accurately.
Early signs: CRUK's researcher consultation showed broad support, viewing it as overdue disruption.
Institutional and Publisher Responses in the UK
UK universities, via Jisc and Russell Group, negotiate read-and-publish deals covering APCs in subscriptions. CRUK expects these to absorb costs, as UKRI formulas reward high-output fields like oncology. Publishers face pressure: hybrid dominance criticized, with calls for Publish-Review-Curate (PRC) models shifting fees to post-publication curation.Explore PRC here.
For more on UKRI block grants and allocation, see their guidance.
Stakeholder Reactions: Support and Concerns
Initial feedback splits. Professor Richard Harris hailed it: "Ludicrous... there should never be a fee to publish." Others worry about access delays for patients/public. Phil Prime (CRUK) clarified green OA ensures free availability. No major uni backlash yet, but librarians eye strained pots.
- Support: Disrupts publisher profiteering; frees charity funds.
- Criticism: Potential embargo delays; admin burden on unis.
Broader UK and Global OA Context
UKRI's 2022 policy mandates zero-embargo OA, fueling APC rise (£250m+ total UK spend). Charities like Wellcome enforce stricter immediate OA. Globally, Plan S pushes diamond OA (no fees). CRUK's move echoes critiques in Research Professional News.
Cancer research: High-impact field, 20%+ UK biomed papers CRUK-linked.
Photo by Ezebunwo Omachi on Unsplash
Alternatives and Solutions for Sustainable Publishing
CRUK advocates:
- Low/no-APC journals (e.g., eLife successors).
- Repository ecosystems (Europe PMC, institutional repos).
- Overhaul assessments (DORA signatory).
Institutions: Negotiate better deals; prioritize green. Researchers: Leverage preprints, consortia.
Future Outlook: Reshaping Research Dissemination
This could catalyze PRC adoption, curbing APC inflation. With CRUK's £5.2m boost, expect more trials, fellowships. UK unis must innovate amid £100m+ annual OA bills. Positive: Aligns donor priorities, pressures reform. Watch for 2027 REF impacts on block grants.
For UK researchers, check CRUK's full post and update grant plans.