project manager cancer research uk

Cancer Research Project Managers Network

The Cancer Research Project Managers Network (CRPMN) aims to use existing experience and influence within the cancer research ecosystem in Manchester to encourage and empower individuals to change perceptions and expectations of the project manager (PM) role to enhance cancer research delivery.

PMs sit at the heart of the Team Science ethos in Manchester cancer research, enabling multidisciplinary collaborative research teams to delivery high quality cancer research. Getting a research project off the ground is a complex process involving many different departments across the University and NHS Trusts, as well as potentially other collaborators such as a commercial sponsor, a clinical trials unit, or private companies. The common thread, though, is that PMs do the behind-the-scenes work that makes research happen.

Led by Emma Thorpe,  Kate Vaughan, Holly Summersgill and Kate Brown, the Cancer Research Project Managers Network was established to promote and support the work of PMs working in cancer research across Manchester.

CRPMN Vision

The CRPMN vision is threefold:

• PMs will be recognised as having valued roles that are integral to research teams as part of the Team Science ethos that underpins cancer research delivery
• The CRPMN will drive the delivery of exceptional scientific research
• The CRPMN will lead the way in defining and developing research project management as an independent and recognised profession

A project manager can help a group to maximise its research potential – having both the scientific knowledge and overarching understanding of the research focus to continually drive identification of funding opportunities, grant applications and manuscript development, whilst other team members focus on lab work or leadership and teaching responsibilities. Importantly, a project manager can also provide an extra connection between group leaders and lab team members to help foster an efficient and collaborative team approach.

Prof. Stephen Taylor

Leech Professor of Pharmacology and Head Of the Division of Cancer Sciences

CRPMN expertise

The CRPMN, with over 50 members, is comprised of a diverse group of highly educated and qualified individuals. Mostly from a science background, PMs have a range of career histories which can be leveraged in many ways to enhance research impact, value and delivery. Within the network, the majority of PMs are employed by The University of Manchester, and approximately 30% are employed by the NHS at various sites across GM. The vast majority (89%) support a research team or theme, rather than an individual researcher.

PMs can offer a diverse range of research expertise and as such can support diverse research types, including clinical, non-clinical, Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPS), medical devices, and population/community-based projects. The day-to-day tasks of PMs vary enormously both from one day to the next and from one PM to the next and reflect the needs of the research they support.

For further information about the work of the CRPMN, you can view a poster presentation from the Greater Manchester Cancer Virtual Cancer Week 2021, which includes an overview of the expertise and support PMs can provide to drive and deliver outstanding cancer research

Future Direction

The CRPMN wants the MCRC to be a great place to be a project manager, with a welcoming community that provides support and guidance to newcomers. The CRPMN has a strategy and a series of objectives to focus our efforts. Within this strategy the CRPMN is looking to address:

• The ethos of Team Science
• The role of the PM in collaborative research teams
• The needs of PIs to ensure they recruit people into a professional support role that meets their needs.

The CRPMN also provides a forum for its members to ask questions and share best practice, drawing on the large pool of knowledge and experience of its members. Through several sub-groups, the network has created an action plan aligned with its objectives and is focussing on specific areas of interest and greatest need. Sub-groups include:

• Communication
• PM Induction
• Alignment of PM roles within organisations/across cancer research

One of the team’s recent achievements was the publication of the PanDA project funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK. This prospective study is a first-of-its-kind aiming to better define pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), its diagnosis and treatment, in patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer. As project manager for the team, I was involved in protocol development, ethical approvals, report submissions to the funder and regulatory bodies, data calculation for the breath tests and QC of the database. I am pleased to have been included as an author on the paper and overjoyed that the academic clinicians and researchers in the team value the role of project manager.

Dr Kate Vaughan, Senior Research Programme Manager

Senior Research Programme Manager

I work as part of the translational radiobiology group, initially focussed on head and neck Proton Therapy trials but more recently also managing two large observational studies (RAPPER and REQUITE). The work is varied, and has included managing sample collection from TORPEdO trial patients (the UK’s first Proton Therapy trial), preparing new funding applications, and managing the data/tissue access process for REQUITE. During grant applications my role has been to keep everything on track and pull information together from multiple sites and investigators, as well as to prepare final costings. I’ve also organised a number of patient workshops to support applications - I’ve found these particularly rewarding as they helped me to understand the real impact that treatments have on patients and their families, and why the research is so necessary.

Zoe Lingard

TORPEdO Trial Translational Project Manager and Head & Neck Cancer Research Project Manager

As BARD Senior Project Manager, my role is multifaceted, spanning logistical organisation of data collection and collation, through to identifying at risk patients and referring them for screening. The aim of enhanced breast screening is to identify a breast cancer in its early stages, when treatment options and survival outcomes are more favourable. Through identification of at-risk patients and their subsequent referrals for screening, BARD will undoubtedly save lives.

Dr Joanna Williams

BARD Senior Project Manager

I work as a Project Manager in the Division of Cancer Sciences for the University of Manchester. Our group research focusses on the early detection of gynaecological cancers and includes the investigation of less invasive tests with the potential to improve the patient pathway. My role is to assist the Principal Investigator and Clinical Fellows in the development, set up and running of research studies covering study design, regulatory approvals, stakeholder communications and data management. The role of a project Manager is challenging and interesting, helping to keep projects to time and budget. I feel proud to be part of research where the ultimate goal is to improve future patient care.

Suzanne Carter

Project Manager, Early Detection of Gynaecological Cancers

Where are we based?

CRPMN members are part of the following facilities and centres across Manchester:

• University of Manchester
• The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
• Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Get involved

Principal Investigators are encouraged to contact the network co-leads    Emma Thorpe , Kate Vaughan , Holly Summersgill & Kate Brown if they wish to discuss their project management needs. The team can support the writing of project manager job descriptions, the recruitment process and the induction for new starters. New project managers to the organisation will automatically be added to the network and will benefit from all the support on offer.

Introducing the Cancer Research Project Managers’ Network

BARD: A national targeted breast screening programme for women who received radiotherapy to breast tissue when age under 36

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• Cancer Research Project Managers Network
• Research and innovation

The Cancer Research Project Managers Network (CRPMN) works across The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Manchester, and the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). The CRPMN brings together project managers (PMs) across Manchester to improve cancer research delivery.

Led by Emma Thorpe, Holly Summersgill, Rebecca Elliott, and Kate Vaughan, the CRPMN has a vision to:

• recognise PMs as having valued roles that are integral to research teams as part of the Team Science ethos that underpins cancer research delivery,
• drive the delivery of exceptional scientific research, and
• will lead the way in defining and developing research project management as an independent and recognised profession.

Project managers and the CRPMN

PMs enable multidisciplinary collaborative research teams to delivery high quality cancer research. When someone wants to start a research project, this is a complex process involving many different departments across The Christie, the University of Manchester, and MFT. It can also include other collaborators such as a commercial sponsor, a clinical trials unit, or private companies.

What unites all research projects is that they need PMs to do the behind-the-scenes work to make research happen.

PMs can support diverse research types, including clinical, non-clinical, Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPS), medical devices, and population/community-based projects.

The CRPMN has over 50 members and is made up of a diverse group of highly qualified PMs. Mostly from a science background, PMs have a range of experience which they can use in many ways to enhance research impact, value, and delivery. Most PMs work with a research team or theme, rather than an individual researcher.

Future direction of the   CRPMN

The CRPMN is working to make Manchester a great place to be a project manager, providing a welcoming community that provides support and guidance to newcomers. The CRPMN is looking to address:

• the ethos of Team Science,
• the role of the PM in collaborative research teams, and
• the needs of PIs to ensure they recruit people into a professional support role that meets their needs. 

CRPMN forum and subgroups

The CRPMN provides a members’ forum to ask questions and share best practice, drawing on the large pool of knowledge and experience of the network. Through several subgroups and project manager and principal investigator (PI) surveys, the CRPMN has created an action plan aligned with its objectives and is focusing on specific areas of interest and greatest need.

The action plan subgroups include:

• communication,
• PM/PI survey,
• training and induction, and
• alignment of PM roles within organisations/across cancer research.

Get involved

If you are a PI and want to discuss your project management needs, please contact the CRPMN co-leads  Emma Thorpe ,  Holly Summersgill ,  Rebecca Elliott , and  Kate Vaughan .

The CRPMN can support project manager job description writing, recruitment and induction for new starters. New PMs to the research departments of The Christie, the University of Manchester and MFT will automatically be added to the network and will benefit from all the support on offer.

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Last updated: May 2023

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At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. As the world’s leading cancer research charity, we are at the forefront of the global fight against cancer, bringing together millions of people who share our determination to beat it. 

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We are working towards a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. A world where some types of cancer are effectively eliminated and many more are prevented from developing in the first place. A world where cancers are diagnosed earlier to ensure successful treatment with kinder, more effective treatments. A world where everyone shares in this progress equally, regardless of who they are, where they come from or what type of cancer they have. And research offers hope – with new ideas, tools, and technologies to unravel cancer’s complexity that were unimaginable just a few years ago. 

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone who shares our vision, someone like you.  Together, we will beat cancer.

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Cancer Research UK (CRUK)

Lottery product and programme manager.

4,000 professionals, 0 days wasted, 1 incredible purpose.  

Lottery Product & Programme Manager  

£ 43 , 000 - £ 48 , 000 plus benefits  

Reports to: Head of F&M Product (Individual Giving)  

Directorate: ​ Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement ​  

Contract: ​ 12 month fixed-term contract ​  

Hours: ​ Full time 35 hours per week ​    

Location: ​ Stratford, London ​ ​ Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office) ​  

Closing date: 17 September 202 4 23:55   

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. Please let us know if there is anything about the recruitment process that you would like to discuss, in particular if there are any changes or adjustments that would make it easier for you to apply. Please contact or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.  

Please note: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.  

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.  

Cancer Research UK are looking for a commercial Programme or Project manager to join our fundraising and marketing team as Lottery Product and Project Manager.

Our Individual Giving product team looks after several fundraising products including regular giving, payroll giving and prize-led giving, and are responsible for bringing in ~£100m each year for the charity. As Lottery Product and Project Manager you will manage our exciting portfolio of prize-led giving products (for example our Weekly Lottery and Superdraw) across Cancer Research UK that brings in over £4m for the charity each year. You are responsible for a significant annual income & expenditure, long term planning, and managing the delivery of our portfolio through external and internal partners.

What will I be doing?  

Working with key stakeholders including Head of Individual Giving , you would be responsible for  the setting targets and reporting on our weekly lottery programme  

Working with our Product Development team and our partners to manag e the pipeline of product development activities to deliver opportunities for growth or product improvements  

Setting up and managing teams across the organisation to deliver our product plans  

Briefing, leading & facilitating group activity (e.g.  requirements-gathering, prioritisation and planning sessions)  

Defining and proactively managing projects   and compliance by   identifying   dependencies, flagging risks & issues and co-creating   mitigation plans   

Relationship managing key suppliers, external third parties and key stakeholder for the product area  

What are you looking for ?  

Excellent stakeholder engagement and management skills, with the ability to quickly get buy in and work collaboratively   

Experience of budget management, profit & loss management and developing business cases   

Experience of translating consumer and market insight into product strategy   

Experience of managing complex projects involving multiple partners / suppliers  

Proven ability to work well under pressure, with demonstrable strategic / innovative thinking skills   

Problem solving skills. Ability to overcome issues, propose solutions and make sound commercial decisions   

Excellent communication and relationship building skills, creating connections to make great things happe  

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do .  

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We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.  

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.  

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W e create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools . Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.  

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There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner. 

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you. We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.

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Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks. 

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£12 million funding awarded to advance innovative cancer projects

28 August 2024

Twenty-three companies will benefit from a share of £12 million from the Innovate UK Cancer Therapeutics programme.

The Cancer Therapeutics programme focuses on developing life-changing cancer treatments, including immunotherapies and vaccines. It also supports projects addressing unmet medical needs for treating childhood and young persons’ cancers.

The investment from Innovate UK will drive both early and later stage innovations in cancer therapies, building on UK economic potential in this field.

Industry-led research and development

£11.3 million will be shared by 16 projects led by small and medium-sized enterprises at various stages right from feasibility through to regulatory approval.

Targeting ancient mechanisms and interfering with proteins

Stimulating the immune system to attack cancers has been a major breakthrough in cancer therapy, meaning some patients are now surviving previously fatal cancers. True cures have remained rare, however, and many cancers only respond minimally, if at all.

Momentous Therapeutics has discovered a biochemical mechanism dating back to the earliest forms of life, that controls activation of the immune system. The company’s project is to develop a drug that releases this ‘biochemical brake’, realising the immense potential of cancer immunotherapy.

Revolver Therapeutics ‘ project will involve identifying tiny proteins, known as peptides, that can enter cells to prevent specific cancer-causing proteins from binding to DNA within a child’s brain tumour. This phenomenon is strongly associated with high-grade childhood brain and spinal tumours. It is hoped that by interfering with these DNA-binding proteins, these cancers affecting children can be treated.

Feasibility studies

Seven organisations will receive a share of £700,000 to complete feasibility studies to develop new approaches in cancer therapeutics.

The companies participated in Innovate UK’s Oncology Accelerator , delivered by Lean Life Science in 2023 and co-funded by Cancer Research Horizons . Through a closed feasibility competition, they received follow-on financial support from Innovate UK to assess the technical and commercial viability of their early-stage projects.

The projects cover a range of cancers, including pancreatic, ovarian and breast, as well as immunotherapies aimed at stimulating patients’ immune systems to find and destroy cancer cells.

Enhancing and transforming

One of the successful companies is OligoTune . It will use its grant to enhance its immune system activating ribonucleic acid (RNA) technology to develop potent cancer therapies, aiming to improve the treatment of solid tumours.

Another, Galytx , is developing novel and potentially transformative therapeutic drugs for the most aggressive cancers. Their project will help them to accelerate their development strategy.

Turning breakthroughs into real-world solutions

Dr Stella Peace, Executive Director for the Healthy Living and Agriculture Domain at Innovate UK, said:

We’re pleased to be supporting business-led innovation at various stages of development, from projects progressing from our Oncology Accelerator, to SME-led collaborative research. By driving business growth and supporting the development of transformative therapies, we’re enabling innovators to turn their breakthroughs into real-world solutions that make life better and fostering economic growth that benefits society as a whole.

Tackling cancer through innovative treatments

Minister of Science Patrick Vallance said:

Supporting researchers through this funding is an integral part of our mission to tackle cancer through innovative treatments that could benefit patients of all ages, and give innovative small businesses the support they need to scale-up the development of their groundbreaking ideas here, in the UK. With Government backing for projects at every stage, the UK’s life sciences sector will continue to be at the forefront of research that is producing ground-breaking therapies that could be transformative for the thousands of people struggling with the disease up and down the country.

Diversifying the pipeline of safe and effective therapies

Dr Karen Spink, Head of Medicines at Innovate UK, said:

We are excited to see the diversity of businesses that have been supported through our cancer therapeutics programme. The industry-led R&D projects will advance transformative treatments for a range of cancers, including those that affect children and young people. The early-stage feasibility awards will also enable the de-risking of promising innovations that have been nurtured through our oncology accelerator. Together, this portfolio of investments will diversify the pipeline of targeted, safe and effective therapies for cancer patients.

Further information

Industry-led research and development projects, antikor biopharma ltd.

Antikor’s innovative better penetrating antibody-drug conjugates are being applied to ovarian cancer to potently activate the immune system more safely, for better patient outcomes.

Funding award: £496,767

Cell Guidance Systems Ltd

Using microscopic protein drug crystals to turn white blood cells into Trojan horses to more effectively treat cancer.

Funding award: £302,786

Coding Bio Ltd

Novel messenger RNA-based cell therapy for childhood brain cancer.

Funding award: £606,814

Epitopea Ltd

Extending focus to stromal cells (which cancer cells use to help them grow and evade the immune system) and using these for vaccines and biologics against breast cancer and beyond.

Funding award: £501,408

Grey Wolf Therapeutics Ltd

Developing novel treatments for colorectal cancer patients by unmasking a novel set of ‘hidden’ tumour proteins for more effective targeting by the immune system.

Funding award: £498,557

Lentitek Ltd

Next-generation lentiviral production to enable advanced therapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy for childhood malignancies.

Funding award: £295,025

Medannex Ltd

Collaboration with world-leading scientists and clinicians to prepare for clinical trials of a promising new medicine for childhood bone cancer.

Funding award: £231,040

Mestag Therapeutics Ltd

Mestag’s investigational cancer therapy triggers a specialised local immune response, resulting in potent anti-tumour activity preclinically, even in cancers that are typically unresponsive to therapy.

Funding award: £1,534,440

Momentous Therapeutics Ltd

Developing drugs targeting a most fundamental, ancient mechanism controlling immune activation, which will turbo-charge immune attack of tumours.

Funding award: £1,996,194

Pathios Therapeutics Ltd

Developing drugs to block a receptor (GPR65), unleashing the immune system to attack devastating brain tumours such as malignant glioma.

Funding award: £475,743

Prokarium Ltd

Cutting-edge bioengineering will create safe Salmonella bacteria that target tumours with customisable anti-cancer payloads, giving patients access to a new class of cost-effective treatments.

Funding award: £317,691

QV Bioelectronics Ltd

Creating implants to treat childhood brain cancer, aiming to help young patients live longer and improve their quality of life.

Funding award: £343,260

Revolver Therapeutics Ltd

Identifying tiny proteins, known as peptides, that can enter cells to shut down DNA-binding proteins strongly associated with high-grade childhood gliomas.

Funding award: £551,639

Sferola Ltd

Sferola Ltd is developing next-generation nanotechnology for paediatric brain tumours and partnering with University of Leeds to test its potential in their state-of-the-art preclinical models.

Funding award: £409,040

Theolytics Ltd

A novel phase one clinical trial for a next-generation oncolytic therapy targeting treatment of platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Funding award: £1,993,042

VacV Biotherapeutics Ltd

Developing a novel treatment for colorectal cancer using cancer cell-killing viruses, to eradicate tumours and prevent recurrence by boosting immunity to cancer cells.

Funding award: £499,486

Feasibility projects

Creasallis ltd.

Taking an initial proof of concept in a cancer model, using antibody-based therapeutics for solid tumours, to expand on their indications to accelerate a therapeutic towards clinical validation.

Funding award: £99,917

Galytx is developing novel and potentially transformative therapeutic drugs for the most aggressive cancers. This project will accelerate Galytx’s development strategy.

Funding award: £99,682

Kargenera Ltd

The incidence of liver cancer is increasing faster than any other cancer in the UK. Kargenera is developing a new immunotherapy to tackle this devastating disease.

Funding award: £99,479

New Path Molecular Research Ltd

Making and testing novel molecules which have potential to treat pancreatic cancer and colon cancer to optimise their efficacy and reduce side effects.

Funding award: £99,835

OligoTune Ltd

Enhancing RNA technology with immune activation to develop potent cancer therapies, which aim to improve treatment for solid tumour patients.

Funding award: £98,218

Proteotype Diagnostics Ltd

Urine-based ‘multicancer early detection at home’ test using amino acid biomarkers already validated in plasma.

Funding award: £99,998

Xgenera Ltd

Optimisation and advanced development of miONCO-Dx, a blood-based, multi-cancer diagnostic test.

Funding award: £99,852

Top image:  Mestag’s MST-0300 induces localised immunological powerhouses of anti-tumour immunity, leading to potent, orchestrated tumour cell killing in preclinical models. Credit: Mestag Therapeutics.

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ABOUT CANCER

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NEWS & RESOURCES

FUNDING & RESEARCH

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Biomarker Project Awards

About this scheme, how to apply to this scheme, key information.

*This funding scheme is closed and is no longer accepting applications. View details of our new  clinical research funding scheme .

The biomarker project award provides funding for biomarker assay development, validation and qualification where there is a clear line of sight to clinical implementation.

You must be from a UK university, research institution, clinical centre or clinical trials unit (CTU). 

Scientific remit

This scheme accepts applications for biomarker assay development, validation and qualification where there is a clear line of sight to clinical implementation.

• All types of biomarkers will be considered, including predisposition, screening, diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, pharmacological and surrogate response markers.
• Proposals can use invasive or imaging techniques.
• Biosamples or images can be collected as part of the proposal or accessed from existing sample/data sets.

Biomarker discovery proposals are not covered within the remit of this scheme. If your research aims to identify potential biomarkers, you may be eligible for our discovery research opportunities .

If your proposal includes research that seeks to enable the early detection of cancer or pre-cancerous states, you may be eligible for our early detection funding opportunities .

This scheme does not accept endorsements.

Funding support is provided for:

• Salaries for researchers and technical staff
• Running expenses

Full details of allowable costs are set out in our costs guidance .

*These are guide costs and larger amounts may be considered with appropriate justification.

We are also giving applicants to this funding scheme the opportunity to opt-in to a new multi-journal pilot project on Registered Reports.

Application process 

Applications follow a two-step process:

Expression of interest (EOI): submit an expression of interest form  to the CRUK office. We will check that your proposal is within remit and open a full application form for you. Please complete and send us your EOI form ideally at least 1 month and no later than 2 weeks before a submission deadline to help us best assist you.

Full application :

• Submit your full application through our FlexiGrant system
• Your application will be sent to the designated members of our Expert Review Panels for comments
• You will be given the opportunity to respond to the comments provided
• Our Expert Review Panel (ERP) will consider your application, the comments, and your response to the comments, and you may be invited to present to the ERP before they make a recommendation to the Committee
• The  Clinical Research Committee  will make a final decision on funding

Before you begin your application

You must read the full application guidelines (PDF) before starting your application, even if you have applied for funding with us before.

You must read the costs guidance to understand what we will and will not fund.

We expect patient and public involvement to be demonstrated in applications. Use our  Patient and Public Involvement Toolkit for Researchers  for advice on this.

The NIHR CRN can provide support on a number of aspects of study development, set up and delivery through their  Study Support Service . Applications must be costed in line with  AcoRD  guidance.

Extension applications

Funded extension applications are not accepted. However, under exceptional circumstances, requests for no-cost extensions are considered. Please contact the Clinical Research Funding team to discuss the need for an extension and for access to a no-cost extension form.

Amendment applications

Funded amendment applications are not accepted. However, under exceptional circumstances, requests for no-cost amendments are considered. Amendments must be reviewed by the Committee where there is a significant change to the study design, sample size or study drug. Please use the following process:

Contact the  Clinical Research Funding team  to discuss the need for an amendment and for access to an amendment application form.

Read the  amendment application guidelines (PDF) before starting your application, even if you have applied for funding with us before.

Submit the amendment application to the advertised deadline for that funding round.

Review of amendment application at a Committee meeting.

The deadlines for submission of the no-cost amendment application are:

The Clinical Research Committee and its Expert Review Panels will judge your proposal based on the following criteria:

• Clinical and scientific importance of the research question
• Alignment with our Research Strategy and Clinical Research Statement of Intent
• Expected impact on clinical practice
• Strength of study design, including statistical design and rationale
• Adequacy of background information and supporting evidence
• Expertise of the study team
• Likelihood of successful study delivery
• Appropriate patient involvement
• Appropriate justification of costs

The 5 year rolling success rate  (financial year 2019 - 2024) from application to funding for this scheme is 23%.

Applications are assessed first by an Expert Review Panel, then final funding recommendations are made by the  Clinical Research Committee (CRC).

Download an EOI form

Cancer Research UK contact details

Before you can begin your application you must complete an Expression of Interest and contact your Research Grants Manager to discuss your proposal and any questions you may have.

For applications from London (except for The ICR), Oxford, Birmingham, Southampton and The South of England

Benjamin Angus

Research Grants Manager

[email protected]

For applications from The ICR, Cambridge, The North of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Alex Fraser

More opportunities for clinical researchers

We support a broad portfolio of clinical research through grant funding, initiatives and investments in infrastructure, and we have a variety of funding schemes and other opportunities to support your research.

We are also committed to ensuring that clinical academics have the support they need to develop a career in cancer research, and we have a range of opportunities for researchers at all career levels.

Disability and accessibility support

We offer additional support for grant applicants and grant holders who are disabled or have a long-term health condition. 

Environmental sustainability in research

Researchers applying to our funding schemes from 2026 will be required to demonstrate the environmental sustainability of their laboratories by obtaining green lab certification.

Related guidance to download

Biomarker applications guidelines (PDF)

Imaging biomarker guidance (PDF)

Imaging biomarker roadmap for cancer-studies (PDF)

Diagnostic biomarker roadmap (PDF)

Pharmacological biomarker roadmap (PDF)

Prognostic and predictive biormarker roadmap (PDF)

Screening biomarker roadmap (PDF)

Research events

Our Strategy and Research Funding teams attend and exhibit at conferences, meetings and workshops throughout the year.

PPI Toolkit

Our Patient and Public Involvement Toolkit for researchers is your resource for planning and carrying out involvement activities.