A prestigious fellowship from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) that offers up to £1.5 million (~$1.8M USD) over 6 years to outstanding early-career scientists establishing their first independent cancer research group. This Career Development Fellowship enables postdoctoral researchers who have demonstrated excellence to transition into a tenure-track faculty role at a UK institution, providing generous funding for salary, lab staff, equipment, and projects in any area of cancer research (basic, translational or clinical).
Eligibility Criteria:
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Open to researchers of any nationality, but the fellowship work must be based at a UK university, hospital or recognized research institute. Applicants will need an eligible UK host institution willing to sponsor their fellowship and provide lab space and support.
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Candidates should be at the stage of securing their first independent position. Typically, this means they do not yet hold a tenure-track or salaried faculty post at the time of application. Often final-stage postdocs or junior fellows ready to launch their own lab apply.
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A strong track record of impactful cancer research during PhD and postdoc (publications, contributions) is required, demonstrating potential to become a future leader in the field. CRUK usually expects ~3–8 years of postdoctoral experience (enough to show productivity, but still early-career enough to need this support).
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The applicant must show innovation and excellence in their proposal. Projects can cover cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Interdisciplinary approaches are welcome. The application requires a robust research plan and evidence of institutional commitment (e.g. a letter assuring lab space and possibly a faculty title for the fellow).
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Only candidates without prior substantial independent grants (like equivalent to a large national fellowship or program leader awards) are eligible, to ensure this fellowship is truly for new group leaders.
Funding Details:
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Funding: Up to £1.5 million (British pounds) over up to 6 years. This can cover:
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The fellow’s salary (if not already covered by the host institute).
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Salaries for key team members (e.g. a postdoc, PhD students, research technicians).
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Research consumables, reagents, and small equipment.
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Travel to conferences and training.
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CRUK provides flexibility in budgeting; applicants propose how much and what they need (within the £1.5M cap). The budget must be justified by the project’s scope (often supporting a team of 3–5 researchers).
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Duration: Typically 6 years. The fellowship is longer than many (to allow time for establishing a program and obtaining follow-on funding). Progress is assessed, but CRUK intends the full term support.
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Awardees also get access to CRUK’s network – they become part of the CRUK community of fellows, with mentorship from senior scientists and opportunities to attend leadership training and networking events. This fellowship is seen as a pipeline to permanent faculty roles in the UK.
Deadline:
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Full applications due by February 19, 2026.
Where to go for further information: