The Cancer Research UK Clinical Research Funding Scheme supports high-quality, investigator-led cancer research involving patients, tissues, samples, and clinical data. The program is structured around three interconnected modules: Clinical Trial, Experimental Medicine, and Sample Collection, which can be combined into an integrated research proposal.
CRUK particularly encourages biologically rich and innovative clinical studies that maximise what can be learned from every participant. Priority areas include early-phase proof-of-concept trials, treatment optimisation and repurposing, innovative trial methodologies, rare cancers, cancers affecting children and young people, and cancers with substantial unmet need.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be based at a UK university, medical school, hospital, UKCRC-registered Clinical Trials Unit, or research institution.
- The proposal must be investigator-led; industry-sponsored trials are not eligible.
- Applications ordinarily require a UKCRC-registered Clinical Trials Unit to coordinate the clinical trial or study, or an associated trial/study.
- Researchers at all career stages, from early-career to established investigators, may participate.
- CRUK particularly encourages involvement of early-career researchers approaching or recently completing clinical trial or clinician-scientist fellowships.
- CRUK recommends making contact ideally one month and at least two weeks before the application deadline.
- Module-specific eligibility requirements apply depending on whether the application includes a Clinical Trial, Experimental Medicine, Sample Collection module, or an integrated combination.
Funding Details
- Funding amount: Flexible and module-dependent
- There is no fixed overall maximum award for the scheme.
- Typical funding duration: up to 10 years
- Clinical Trial Module guide costs: approximately £50,000–£200,000 per year
- Experimental Medicine project guide costs: approximately £100,000 per year
- Experimental Medicine programme guide costs: approximately £300,000 per year
Deadline
- Outline application deadline: September 7, 2026
- Clinical Research Committee shortlisting: November 2026
- Subsequent full application: by invitation only
- Expert panel review: March 2027
- Current status: Open
Further Information
- Official program information and application details: Visit the Cancer Research UK Clinical Research Funding Scheme for current eligibility, research remit, module requirements, costs, deadlines, and application guidance.
- Pre-application contact: Researchers must contact the Clinical Research team at clinicalresearch@cancer.org.uk before applying to confirm eligibility, remit, and the appropriate application route.
- Application portal: Applicants approved by CRUK to proceed receive access to the appropriate application forms through the Flexi-Grant grants management system.
- Clinical Research Committee: Review the Clinical Research Committee page for assessment criteria, committee remit, and information on the review process.
- Upper GI spotlight call: Researchers working in pancreatic, liver, oesophageal, or gastric cancer can review CRUK’s spotlight call on upper gastrointestinal cancers, which uses this Clinical Research Funding Scheme as its funding route.