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

Eligibility

Coming soon: we have 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. Starting in September 2024, we will replace all existing schemes with this more flexible and scalable modular-based funding system. 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)

• investigator-led

• developed with the involvement of an 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

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

Experimental Medicine Module

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 retrospective 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: £15-30 per block, £5-20 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

How to apply to this scheme

There are two funding rounds per year for the Clinical Research Scheme. Applications follow a two- or three-step process:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to your Research Grants Manager. Complete and send us your EOI form at least one month and no later than two weeks before the submission deadline. We will confirm whether you are eligible, whether the proposal is within remit, and advise on the application process. You may choose to bypass the outline stage where one of the following applies:

   • standalone Sample Collection applications

   • standalone Experimental Medicine applications <£250,000 in total

   • standalone Clinical Trial applications that do not intend to submit an Experimental Medicine proposal and that are either <£500,000 or internationally led

   • standalone Clinical Trial endorsement application

2. Submit your outline application through our FlexiGrant system. The Clinical Research Committee will review it, provide feedback, and recommend whether a full application should be invited. The outline stage is a valuable opportunity to receive feedback from the Clinical Research Committee and enhance the quality of your proposal.

3. Submit your full application through our FlexiGrant system. We expect the full application to be submitted within 18 months of receiving the outcome of your outline application. The review process for full applications is as follows:

4. Written Comments: your full application will be sent to the designated members of the Expert Review Panel for comments. The Expert Review Panel will provide written comments, and you will have an opportunity to respond to them.

   Expert Review Panel: the Panel will provide a recommendation to the Clinical Research Committee based on the scientific quality of your application. For particularly complex studies, you may be invited to present to the Panel.

   Clinical Research Committee: the Committee will make the final funding decision, considering the Expert Review Panel's recommendation and the alignment of your application with our research strategy and clinical research statement of intent.

   Outline Application Deadline	Committee Review Meeting
   2 April 2025	May 2025
   24 September 2025	November 2025

   Full Application Deadline	Committee Review Meeting
   5 December 2024	May 2025
   25 June 2025	November 2025

   Before you begin your application You must read:

   • Application guidelines (coming in August)

   • Research Strategy and Statement of Intent

   • Cost guidance

   • to understand what we will and will not fund.

   • Improving inclusion of under-served groups in clinical research

   • Guidance on making a successful application

   We expect patient and public involvement to be embedded across all modules. For advice on this, use our Patient and Public Involvement Toolkit for Researchers. You can also read the guidance on improving the inclusion of under-served groups in clinical research and our guidance on what makes a successful application.

   Your proposal must be aligned with our relevant policies, including:

   • research involving the recruitment of human participants

   • funding the salaries of investigators

     For More funding Opportunities, Visit Global Funding Opportunities.