Clinical Research Funding Scheme

Cancer Research UK • August, CA, United States • $200k - $250k / year • 3w ago

Typically, up to 10 years but longer durations can be considered if justified (project dependent).

Funding amount: Flexible; module dependent. See the ‘what is funded’ section for more detail.

This modular funding scheme provides funding for high-quality clinical research, associated translational research, and collection of samples and data.

We’ve updated our clinical research funding scheme to align with our research strategy, encouraging bold and innovative applications that address critical clinical questions whilst deepening our understanding of cancer biology and treatment. This flexible and scalable modular-based scheme now replaces all existing schemes within the Clinical Research Committee. If you have any questions, please contact the clinical research funding team.

The clinical research funding scheme includes three interconnected modules: clinical trials, experimental medicine, and sample collection. We recommend that you apply for all three modules together, but we will also consider standalone and mixed module applications if they are strongly justified. We encourage bold and creative applications for this scheme.

Applications must be:

from a UK university, research institution, clinical centre or clinical trials unit (CTU)
developed with the involvement of a UKCRC registered CTU*

*Exceptions may apply for small-scale and/or non-complex, non-interventional studies where appropriately justified.

We welcome applications from early to established career researchers, as defined in our competency framework. PhD students are not eligible to apply for the scheme at this time. Please see our application guidelines, which will be available in mid-August, for more information.

Early-career researchers, under the develop independence heading, can apply to this scheme with the support of their group leader, supervisor, or mentor as:

lead applicant on smaller project-style applications for the experimental medicine and sample collection modules
joint-lead applicant or co-investigator on:

applications for the clinical trial module
larger programme-style applications to the experimental medicine module
large and/or complex applications to the sample collection module

Scientific Remit

This scheme has been developed to enable effective delivery of our clinical research strategy to support high-quality clinical research that addresses important clinical questions and enhances our understanding of biological mechanisms. In order to achieve this, we encourage integrated applications incorporating all three modules.

Clinical Trial Module

This module supports interventional cancer treatment trials, including systemic treatment, radiotherapy, and surgery, with the aim of improving patient outcomes. We expect proposals, where possible, to have experimental medicine modules and sample collection modules integrated within the trial.

You can apply for funding or endorsement of a clinical trial module in any one of the following areas:

pilot/feasibility study
phase Ia/II dose finding trials testing safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy, including novel combinations of therapies and radiotherapy, and novel indications
phase Ib/II or phase II trials testing the viability of larger trials, including the ability to recruit and/or explore tolerability or efficacy of treatments
window of opportunity studies
phase II/III or phase III trials to investigate the efficacy, effectiveness and tolerability of interventions with the aim of improving survival, or tolerability and patient outcomes

Sub-studies within the clinical trial module

Within a clinical trial application, you can incorporate sub-studies that add value to the overall study. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

equality, diversity and inclusion
patient and public involvement
quality of life
methodology
sustainability

This module supports translational cancer research associated with a clinical trial or well-designed clinical study, which aims to enhance our understanding of biological mechanisms to improve treatment strategies for patients.

We expect the lead applicant(s) to this module to have both clinical and scientific expertise. This could be either an individual with clinical-academic training, or a scientist with a strong translational research focus (one lead applicant), or a collaboration between a clinician and scientist (two or more lead applicants).

We encourage experimental medicine applications to be integrated within a clinical trial proposal but will also consider standalone applications that meet one of the following criteria:

a non-interventional clinical study recruiting patients, such as prospective cohort studies
a standalone biomarker validation or qualification study which uses prospectively or retrospectively collected samples and/or data
a study exploring data or computation-driven approach to clinical research

Proposals investigating the primary effects of cancer on whole-body physiology, where there is a clear impact on patient outcome, such as cachexia, are also supported within this module.

Sample Collection Module

This module supports the hypothesis-driven prospective collection of unique samples or images within a clinical trial or well-designed clinical study. You should apply for this module if you are collecting samples within a clinical trial or experimental medicine proposal.

We encourage the sample collection to be integrated within a clinical trial and/or experimental medicine proposal. We will consider standalone and/or non-hypothesis-driven sample collections, in exceptional and justified circumstances, particularly in priority areas such as cancers of unmet need, children’s and young people’s cancers and rare cancers.

If you are looking to apply for this scheme, please read the application guidelines (coming soon) for more information.

What is funded

There are no funding limits to the modules, but as a guide, we suggest the following:

clinical trials: £150,000 per year
experimental medicine: Project costs of approximately £100,000 per year and programme costs of approximately £300,000 per year
sample collection: £30-60 per block, £5-40 per blood sample

These are guide costs only, and higher or lower funding requests with appropriate justification will also be considered.

This funding can be used for:

salaries for researchers and technical staff
running expenses
equipment

Staff salaries will usually be covered through existing infrastructure funding for standalone sample collection applications, but some staff support may be considered where appropriate justification is provided. Please refer to our cost guidance.

If you have any questions, please get in contact with our clinical research funding team.

Read our clinical funding scheme application guidelines on how to make a successful application.

See our FAQ document to better understand the remit of this funding scheme.

Our statement of intent outlines how we implement the research strategy to answer key clinical questions and deepen our understanding of cancer biology to improve patient outcomes.

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