Career level
Established independent researcher
Early career researcher
Mid-career researcher
Clinician
Non-clinical researcher
Research area
Drug discovery
Immunotherapy
Pre-clinical research
Funding period
Up to 18 months
Funding amount
Up to £250k per project
The Therapeutic Catalyst accelerates the translation of laboratory discoveries into novel cancer therapeutics. Expression of interest deadline: 03 October 2025
Scientific remit
This scheme aims to de-risk early projects to facilitate further drug discovery research, funding, or partnering. We are seeking projects with strong therapeutic potential to deliver patient benefit.
We invite applications for early drug discovery proposals from across all cancer indications and modalities. Some examples of projects we might fund include the following areas:
Not in remit
The following types of projects are not within the remit of this scheme and will not be progressed:
Proposals must clearly align with CRUK’s defined research priorities, such as earlier detection or targeting hard-to-treat cancers.
Selecting the right funding scheme (e.g., Project Grants, Career Establishment, Clinical Trials) is essential to remain eligible .
Applications are evaluated on:
Originality: novel ideas answering important questions
Scientific rigour: thorough experimental design, clear objectives, potential pitfalls outlined, and use of preliminary data .
Feasibility: detailed methods (sample size, data analysis)
Panels assess the expertise and cohesion of the research team—including collaborations outside core disciplines—and mentor-track record .
Reviewers need confidence in the lead applicant’s ability to deliver on the project aims
Costing must be realistic and justified; budgets should reflect project requirements accurately.
CRUK emphasizes ensuring funds are well-used and impactful
Clinical and trial awards require evidence of meaningful PPI, including use of CRUK’s PPI toolkit
Communicating trial relevance to patient reviewers is mandatory.
Applications undergo rigorous external peer review and panel assessment; some schemes include interviews or stage gating, especially for fellowships and trials .
Up to ~47% success depends on scheme, e.g., ~19% for Care Establishment Awards, ~36% for Senior Fellowships .
Lay summaries are reviewed by public panels (e.g., Patient Advisory Committee or lay reviewers) and must clearly and compellingly explain relevance .
Follow CRUK guidance on formatting, portals, ethics statements, trial registration, and costing rules
Drafting clear, concise abstracts and sections is critical for positive reviewer engagement .
Success Factor | Make it Happen By… |
---|---|
Strategic alignment | Map project aims to CRUK priority areas |
Innovation & rigour | Include strong rationale, preliminary data, and analysis plan |
Applicant and team strength | Demonstrate subject expertise and collaborative breadth |
Realistic costing | Justify all costs, engage grants office early |
Patient involvement | Integrate PPI tools and evidence early in design |
Lay-person clarity | Write compelling plain-language summary |
Grant compliance | Meet all documentation and portal requirements |
Peer review preparation | Anticipate criticisms and follow response framework |
🧭 Final Takeaway
CRUK favors innovative, well-designed, and strategically-aligned proposals backed by strong teams and funding clarity, with meaningful patient involvement and seamless application compliance. Success hinges on anticipating both academic and lay reviewer expectations.
You should:
This scheme is open to global applications.
Eligible Countries:
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Cancer Research UK
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.
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Oct 03, 2025
Oct 03, 2025
$343,514
Affiliation: Cancer Research UK
Address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.
Website URL: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/therapeutic-catalyst
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.