The Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Catalyst supports academic researchers seeking to translate promising laboratory discoveries into new cancer therapeutics. Delivered in collaboration with Cancer Research Horizons, the scheme combines grant funding with access to experienced drug-discovery scientists to help researchers validate therapeutic targets, assess druggability, identify potential therapeutic hits, and advance early treatment concepts.
The 2026 program now offers two funding routes: the Target Award, providing up to £250,000 over 12–18 months, and the Early Therapy Award, providing up to £350,000 over 18–24 months. Applications are open globally to eligible academic researchers working on adult cancers.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants may be academic researchers based at any university or research institute worldwide.
- Applicants should have their own laboratory and/or conduct independent research.
- Projects must have strong therapeutic potential and a clear opportunity to benefit cancer patients.
- The current Therapeutic Catalyst is focused on approaches for adult cancers using antibody-based therapeutics or small-molecule approaches, across the range of formats within these modalities.
- Projects should be capable of reaching an important developmental inflection point within the proposed award period, positioning the work for subsequent drug discovery, licensing, partnering, or additional funding.
- Childhood cancer therapeutic projects are not submitted through this route; Cancer Research UK operates a separate Childhood Cancer Therapeutic Catalyst.
Funding Details:
- The Therapeutic Catalyst currently includes two award mechanisms:
- Target Award
Funding: Up to £250,000
Duration: 12–18 months - Early Therapy Award
Funding: Up to £350,000
Duration: 18–24 months - Grant Amount: Up to £350,000 per project
Deadline:
- Applications are reviewed three times per year, with review rounds in February, June, and October.
- Next Expression of Interest deadline: September 25, 2026.
- The September deadline is the remaining 2026 submission date currently listed by Cancer Research UK.
- The Expression of Interest stage is currently open, with the next deadline on September 25, 2026. Because the EOI is mandatory, researchers interested in the 2026 round should submit this first-stage application rather than attempting to proceed directly to a full proposal.
Further Information:
- Official program information and application details: Visit the Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Catalyst page for current funding amounts, eligibility requirements, scientific remit, deadlines, review criteria, and application instructions.
- Cancer Research KI partnership information: Researchers can also review the Cancer Research KI Therapeutic Catalyst page for information about the KI–Cancer Research Horizons partnership and the Therapeutic Catalyst initiative.
- Cancer Research Horizons funding opportunities: Explore the Cancer Research Horizons funding portfolio for Therapeutic Catalyst, Childhood Cancer Therapeutic Catalyst, Data Catalyst, Translation Fund, and related translational opportunities.
- Application portal: Expressions of Interest are submitted through Cancer Research UK’s Flexi-Grant grant-management system; the application link is available through the official Therapeutic Catalyst page.
- Program contact: Researchers are encouraged to discuss potential projects with Cancer Research Horizons before applying. Contact the Therapeutic Translation team at therapeutic.translation@cancer.org.uk.