Jul 17, 2025, 08:20

Cancer Research UK Clinical Research

A modular, investigator-led programme offering flexible funding for interventional cancer trials, translational (experimental medicine) studies, and prospective sample/data collection to address critical clinical questions and advance cancer biology.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicant Organisation: UK university, research institution, clinical centre or UKCRC-registered Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)
Investigator Level: Early-career through established independent researchers (PhD students not eligible) meeting CRUK’s Clinical Research Competency Framework
Study Leadership: Investigator-led; complex or interventional studies should involve a CTU (exceptions for small, non-complex, non-interventional studies with justification)
Scope: Three modules (Clinical Trial, Experimental Medicine, Sample Collection) may be applied for individually or in combination; standalone modules require strong justification
Exclusions: Pure drug discovery or non-translational laboratory research

Funding Details:

Duration: Up to 10 years (extensions considered if justified)
Clinical Trial Module: Guide cost ~£150 000 per year for interventional trials (phases I–III, surgical, window studies)
Experimental Medicine Module: Guide cost ~£100 000 per year (project-scale) or ~£300 000 per year (programme-scale) for mechanistic/translational research, biomarker validation, data-driven approaches
Sample Collection Module: Guide cost £30–60 per tissue block; £5–40 per blood sample for prospective biospecimen and imaging cohorts
Use of Funds: Salaries for research/technical staff, running expenses, equipment; sample-collection staff support may leverage existing infrastructure or be funded if justified

Key Dates:

Final Submission: 5 December 2024
Committee Review: May 2025

How to Apply & Further Information:

Guidelines & FAQs: Download from CRUK’s website under Funding → Clinical Research Funding Scheme
Webinar: Watch the recording on the CRUK YouTube channel
Submission Portal: CRUK Grants Management Portal (link on CRUK site)
Contact: [email protected]