Breast Cancer Now - Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Grant Applications - Policy

Sep 19, 2026

Breast Cancer Now sets a policy for using generative artificial intelligence tools in its grant application process. Applicants must declare any substantive use in the application form, while minimal uses such as translation to English or improving standard English do not require disclosure. The policy defines generative AI and hallucinations and prohibits misuse, including fabricating or altering data, plagiarism, breaching confidentiality, and generating applications without human involvement. Applicants and reviewers remain responsible for valid, non-misleading outputs; staff may use assessed enterprise tools for limited processing tasks but not for assessment or funding decisions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Definitions

Generative AI

Hallucinations

What we expect from applicants and organisations

Substantive use disclosure

Minimal use disclosure

Prohibited uses

Responsibilities of applicants

What we expect from expert reviewers and committee members

Confidentiality requirements

Permitted side tasks

Ensuring valid outputs

Breast Cancer Now’s use of generative AI tools when managing grant applications

Not for assessment or funding decisions

Enterprise protected tools and processing purposes

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in our grant application process Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer potential benefits for research but also present challenges and risks. Breast Cancer Now aims to ensure the responsible conduct of research. We require the use of generative AI tools to be declared when applying for grant funding, with some exceptions as outlined in this policy. This policy aligns with the Research Funders Policy Group statement and the Wellcome Trust policy on the use of generative AI. Definitions Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence which can be used to create new content (for example, text, code, images, videos or music referred to as output) . AI uses machine learning algorithms to model and to train on large data sets. Hallucinations are outputs which may initially appear to be believable but are in fact highly inaccurate or fabricated, including, but not limited to, references that sound plausible but don’t exist. What we expect from applicantsand organisations Applicants for Breast Cancer Now funding can use generative AI tools when preparing a grant application but must tell us about any substantive use of generative AI on their application form. Examples of substantive use include: • assisting idea generation or development of hypotheses • interpreting, analysing or summarising data (including audio, image files) and text • comparing literature sources • generating or refining code • generating an abstract Applicants are not required to disclose any minimal use of generative AI tools on their application form. Examples of minimal use include: • translating applications from other languages to English • improving the standard of English • formatting or reducing word count Applicants must not use generative AI tools: • for uses that would breach our standard research integrity expectations. Examples include: o fabricating, falsifying, manipulating, duplicating, altering original data, images or results o plagiarism – using other people’s ideas, intellectual property or work without acknowledgement or permission o breaching data protection rules or intellectual property rights o misrepresenting or falsifying information, for example, qualifications gained o faking citations or references • to generate an entire application, or sections of an application, without human involvement. • without disclosing their substantive use on our application form We collect information on the use of generative AI in grant applications for monitoring purposes. Anything you tell us will not be used in the assessment process. Any concerns raised that generative AI has been misused will be investigated. Applicants are responsible for the content of their applications. They must: • be honest, transparent and accountable about the use of generative AI tools in their application • protect confidential information and personal data by not inputting it into generative AI tools • ensure the outputs from generative AI tools used in their applications are valid (this includes removing any false, misleading or hallucinated information) • be aware of third-party intellectual property rights (where the rights to the material belong to someone else) when using AI tools in an application, and only use information from thirdparty sources with consent from the relevant copyright holder Organisations must provide guidance to their staff and students on promoting responsible research practice, including how to use AI in line with principles of research integrity and our policy. What we expect from our expert reviewers and committee members Expert reviewers and advisory committee members must not input our confidential grant applications into generative AI tools. Doing this breaches the confidentiality agreement that expert reviewers and advisory committee members agree to. Reviewers may only use generative AI tools for side tasks if the

FAQs

What counts as substantive use of generative AI in a Breast Cancer Now grant application?

Substantive use includes assisting idea generation or developing hypotheses, interpreting/analysing/summarising data and text, comparing literature sources, generating or refining code, and generating an abstract.

Do applicants need to disclose minimal use of generative AI?

No. Minimal use—such as translating applications to English, improving standard English, or formatting and reducing word count—does not require disclosure.

What are prohibited uses of generative AI for applicants?

Applicants must not use AI to breach research integrity, fabricate or falsify data or results, plagiarise without acknowledgement or permission, breach data protection or IP rules, misrepresent qualifications, fake citations or references, or generate an entire application (or sections) without human involvement.

Can expert reviewers use generative AI when handling confidential grant applications?

Expert reviewers and committee members must not input confidential grant applications into generative AI tools. They may use AI only for side tasks that do not involve inputting confidential applications, and they must ensure outputs are valid by removing false, misleading, or hallucinated information.

Sep 19, 2026

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