The Cancer Research UK Pre-doctoral Research Bursary provides up to £25,000 for up to 12 months to clinicians and other health professionals who want to gain practical experience in cancer research early in their academic careers. The award is intended to help applicants develop research skills, undertake a defined cancer research project, and generate preliminary data that may support a future PhD or MD fellowship application.
The scheme supports cancer-relevant basic, preclinical, translational, and early detection research. CRUK is particularly interested in areas of strategic priority, including cancers with substantial unmet need such as brain, lung, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver, and stomach cancers, as well as early detection research. A separate joint CRUK–Pathological Society route provides eligible pathology trainees with up to £50,000 for 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants may be clinicians in training, including foundation, core, specialty, or run-through trainees.
- Nurses are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be eligible to complete their clinical training and practise medicine in the UK, where applicable.
- Applicants generally must not already be registered for or have completed a PhD or MD.
- NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows may apply for consumable costs to support a period of research.
- The award must be held at an eligible UK university or research institute.
- Applicants whose salary is funded through a CRUK institute are not eligible for the standard bursary.
Funding Details:
- Standard bursary: Up to £25,000
- Funding period: Up to 12 months
- CRUK–Pathological Society bursary: Up to £50,000 for 12 months
- Funding may be used to support the applicant’s own salary, where eligible.
Deadline:
- The bursary is considered twice annually.
- September 24, 2026 – application deadline for the November 2026 committee review
- November 2026 – committee review
- Earliest start date following a November review: February 1.
- Current status: Open
Further Information:
- Official program information and application details: Visit the Cancer Research UK Pre-doctoral Research Bursary page for the latest eligibility requirements, research remit, funding guidance, deadlines, and application instructions.
- Application portal: Applications are submitted and managed through Cancer Research UK’s Flexi-Grant grants management system, accessible through the official program page.
- Pre-application contact: Applicants are encouraged to contact CRUK at research.careers@cancer.org.uk at least one month before the submission deadline to discuss eligibility, the proposed project, and funding options.
- Pathology applicants: Eligible pathology trainees who are members of the Pathological Society should select the Cancer Research UK–Pathological Society Pre-doctoral Research Bursary in Flexi-Grant to apply for funding of up to £50,000.
- Funding policies: Applicants should review CRUK’s current costs guidance, salary guidance, grant conditions, research policies, and flexible-career guidance before submitting their application.