+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

Therapeutic Catalyst

Cancer Research UK

Key information

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:

deconvolution and validation of novel targets and pathways
novel therapeutic approaches to validated targets
development of platforms, assays and screens to identify novel cancer therapeutics or targets
drug discovery feasibility and progressing more advanced assets

Not in remit

The following types of projects are not within the remit of this scheme and will not be progressed:

target identification proposals based solely on the use of gene silencing or editing methods in commercially available tumour cell lines
preclinical development studies to initiate clinical trials (eg, bulk synthesis/manufacture to Good Manufacturing Practice, toxicology to Good Clinical Practice)
drug product toxicology, formulation and delivery
development of technology to address an area in early detection, diagnostic field or prevention
hit finding activities
basic biological research relating to cancer
exploratory studies to uncover the underpinning mechanisms of resistance to therapies, novel therapeutic combinations or drug repositioning/repurposing approaches

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🎯 1. Alignment with CRUK Strategy & Priorities

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 .

💡 2. Scientific Quality, Originality & Feasibility

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) 

👥 3. Team Composition & Applicant Track Record

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 

💷 4. Value for Money & Budget Accuracy

Costing must be realistic and justified; budgets should reflect project requirements accurately.

CRUK emphasizes ensuring funds are well-used and impactful

👩‍🔬 5. Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)

Clinical and trial awards require evidence of meaningful PPI, including use of CRUK’s PPI toolkit 

Communicating trial relevance to patient reviewers is mandatory.

📊 6. Structured Peer Review & Panel Decision

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 .

✍️ 7. High-Quality Lay Summaries

Lay summaries are reviewed by public panels (e.g., Patient Advisory Committee or lay reviewers) and must clearly and compellingly explain relevance .

⚙️ 8. Complete, Compliant & Well-Written Applications

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 .

📋 Summary Table

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.

Specialties

Cancer

Eligibility Requirements

You should:

be an academic researcher based at any university or research institute world-wide
have your own lab

This scheme is open to global applications.

Eligible Countries:

United Kingdom

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Cancer Research UK

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity