Clinical Trial Award
About this scheme
Key information
Applications must be:
- From a UK university, research institution, clinical centre or clinical trials unit (CTU)
- For investigator-led, interventional studies of cancer treatment
- Developed with the involvement of an UKCRC registered CTU
Scientific remit
The types of studies that fit this scheme are typically:
- Phase 1a/2 dose finding trials testing safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy (including novel combinations of therapies and radiotherapy, and novel indications)
- Phase 1b/2 or phase 2 trials testing the viability of larger trials, including the ability to recruit and/or to explore tolerability or efficacy of treatments
- Window of opportunity studies
- Phase 2/3 or phase 3 trials to investigate the efficacy, effectiveness and tolerability of interventions with the aim of improving survival.
Studies of cancer treatment approaches that aim to achieve equivalence of survival whilst reducing toxicity or optimising treatment delivery will be considered where the potential for a significant impact on patient outcomes can be demonstrated.
Funding for translational research that allows us to learn more from the clinical trial can be requested in applications to this scheme.
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.
If your study is an early phase trial requiring full management/support from our Centre for Drug Development you should consider the Drug Development Project scheme.
As part of the Clinical Trial outline application you can apply for costs associated with non-regulatory pre-clinical studies required for the initiation of early phase clinical trials of cancer treatments including, but not limited to, proof-of-concept studies for drug re-purposing and novel combination approaches for drugs post-candidate stage.***
This scheme will not fund:
- Industry sponsored trials
- Long term follow up
- Collection and banking of samples for future unspecified translational research
- Regulatory (GLP) toxicology
- Pre-clinical studies for first-in-human studies
- Explorative pre-clinical studies, e.g. to determine candidate selection or early drug development
Funding from the Clinical Trial Award can be used for:
- Salaries for researchers and technical staff
- Running expenses
- Equipment
Funding from the Pre-Clinical Package can be used for:
- Salaries for named researchers and technical staff already employed within the group
- Running expenses
Read our costs guidance for full details of the costs you can claim in your application.
Please note that successful funding of the pre-clinical package and positive results of the pre-clinical experiments do not guarantee support of the full Clinical Trial Award application. The review of the full clinical trial application is independent and a separate funding decision.
*Typically up to 4 years for early phase or feasibility studies, and up to 10 years for late phase trials. Funding for the pre-clinical package can be for up to 12 months.
**Typically up to £50,000 per year for early phase or feasibility studies, and up to £150,000 per year for late phase trials. Larger amounts may be considered with appropriate justification, particularly where substantial translational research is included. Costs up to £200,000 for one year can be requested for a pre-clinical package as part of the clinical trial outline application, although larger amounts may be considered with appropriate justification.
*** We will accept applications for a pre-clinical package, as part of a Clinical Trial Award outline application.
How to apply to this scheme
Application process
Your application will follow either a two- or three-stage 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 confirm whether an outline is required. 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.
- Outline applications: this stage can be omitted for some applications (see below)
- Submit your outline application through our FlexiGrant system
- Your application will be reviewed by the Clinical Research Committee
- If you are successful, we will invite you to submit a full application
- Full applications:
- Submit your full application through our FlexiGrant system
- Your application will be sent to designated members of our Expert Review Panels for comments
- You will be given the opportunity to respond to the comments provided
- One of our Expert Review Panels (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
We will confirm whether an outline application is required after you submit your expression of interest form. Applications including a request for pre-clinical package always require an outline application. For applications without a request for a pre-clinical package an outline application can typically be omitted where one of the following applies:
- You are applying for less than £500,000 of funding
- You are applying for endorsement only
- Your study follows seamlessly on from a feasibility study previously funded by CRUK
- You are requesting funding for the UK component of an internationally-led clinical trial
- You are applying for a costed amendment or extension to an existing study supported by CRUK
Timelines
| Outline Application Deadline | Committee Review |
|---|---|
| 4 April 2024 | May 2024 |
| 19 September 2024 | November 2024 |
| Full Application Deadline | Committee Review |
|---|---|
| 29 November 2023 | May 2024 |
| 4 June 2024 | November 2024 |
If following your outline application a full application is invited, then the full application will be reviewed in the subsequent funding round.
Before you begin your application
- You must read the 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.
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 questions
- 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 and supporting evidence
- Expected interest to patients and adequacy of the recruitment plan 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 2017-2022) from application to funding for this scheme is 49%.
Does this scheme accept endorsements?
Yes. Academically-sponsored studies in receipt of educational grants and/or free drugs from the pharmaceutical industry can be submitted for CRUK endorsement.
Industry-sponsored trials cannot be reviewed under this scheme.
Does this scheme accept extension applications?
Under exceptional circumstances, applications for extensions to funding are accepted under this scheme. Please contact the Clinical Research Funding team to discuss the need for an extension and for access to an extension application form. You must read the extension application guidelines (PDF) before starting your application, even if you have applied for funding with us before.
Requests for no-cost extensions are also considered. Please contact the Clinical Research Funding team to discuss the need for an extension and for access to a no-cost extension form.
Does this scheme accept amendment applications?
Yes. Amendments must be reviewed by the Committee where there is a significant change to the study design, sample size or study drug. Both costed and no-cost amendments are reviewed by 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 a no-cost amendment application are:
| Amendment Application Deadline | Committee Review |
|---|---|
| 4 April 2024 | May 2024 |
| TBC | November 2024 |
Applications are assessed first by an Expert Review Panel, then final funding recommendations are made by the Clinical Research Committee (CRC).
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
clinicalresearch@cancer.org.uk
For applications from The ICR, Cambridge, The North of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Alex Fraser
Research Grants Manager
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.
Funding for pre-clinical studies now available
Do you need to undertake non-regulatory pre-clinical research before beginning your clinical trial?
You can now apply for funding to support your pre-clinical studies as part of your Clinical Trial Award outline application.
See the Clinical Trial Award application guidelines for more information.
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
Useful resources
Designing a clinical trial or study is a complex task, with many practical and regulatory hurdles to cross. Our Funding Managers share 14 resources to help you find advice and navigate the complexities of your study design and application.