Clinical Research Funding Scheme

The Clinical Research Funding Scheme provides modular funding for high-quality clinical research, associated translational research, and collection of samples and data. It supports investigator-led clinical trials and related experimental medicine and sample collection modules, prioritising early-phase proof-of-concept studies, repurposing/optimisation of treatments, and studies that generate high-quality mechanistic data. The scheme is modular (Clinical Trial, Experimental Medicine, Sample Collection) and can fund integrated packages or standalone modules. Funding durations are typically up to 10 years and amounts are flexible depending on the module.

Financial support for investigator-led clinical trials, experimental medicine studies and sample collection; flexible funding amounts; funding periods typically up to 10 years.

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 and all applications must have a UKCRC registered clinical trials unit coordinating the clinical trial/study, with limited exceptions for small/non-complex/non-interventional studies or certain biomarker validation studies. The scheme is open to researchers at any career stage from early to established; applicants are expected to contact the funder for an informal discussion prior to submission.

Applicants must contact the funder by email (ideally one month, at least two weeks before the deadline) for an informal eligibility discussion. Applications are submitted to Cancer Research UK and are reviewed twice per year.