Cancer Research UK

Clinician Scientist Fellowship

Up to £1m| Deadline: 1 October 2026 (28 days)|5 years

Outline application deadline; reviewed twice per year

Last updated: 30 Aug 2026

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Cancer Research UK's Clinician Scientist Fellowship funds UK-based clinician scientists (MD/PhD) with GMC registration to pursue cancer research while remaining clinically active, offering up to £1 million over five years. The call targets early-career clinician-researchers with postdoctoral experience working in basic, preclinical, imaging, radiotherapy, or population-level cancer research. Clinical trials development and single-compound pharmaceutical research are excluded.

Details

Funder	Cancer Research UK
Budget	Up to £1m
Deadline	1 October 2026
Duration	5 years
Consortium	No
Application	2-stage: outline application → full application + interview
Frequency	Annual
Career stage	Early-career opportunity
Eligible countries	GB

Eligibility & scope

For clinician scientists with MD/PhD and some postdoctoral experience, eligible to practice medicine in the UK with GMC registration. Must be hosted at a UK university, medical school, hospital or research institute. Covers salary, running costs, equipment (up to £25k), and one research support post. Clinical service commitment required (20–50% depending on career stage). Proposals must be cancer-relevant.

Who Should Apply

•Clinician scientists with MD and PhD qualifications and GMC registration
•Applicants with a national training number and postdoctoral research experience
•Researchers committed to maintaining clinical practice while leading a research group
•Hosted at a UK university, medical school, hospital, or research institute
•Projects in cancer biology, preclinical science, imaging, radiotherapy, epidemiology, or early detection

Key Dates

•Outline application deadline: 1 October 2026
•Two-stage evaluation: outline application followed by full application and interview
•Five-year project duration

Tips for Applicants

✓Dual-track expectations are explicit: you must maintain clinical commitments alongside research leadership, so be concrete about your clinical schedule and how research time is protected.
✓Cancer Research UK weights clinical relevance and translation heavily for this scheme; frame basic research with a pathway to clinical benefit or patient impact.
✓Outline applications are competitive; use the space to establish a sharp, fundable research question and a realistic team structure that accommodates your clinical role.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist Fellowship fund?

Up to £1 million over a five-year period.

Who is eligible for the Clinician Scientist Fellowship?

Clinician scientists with both MD and PhD qualifications, GMC registration, a national training number, and postdoctoral research experience, hosted at a UK institution.

Do I have to keep practising clinically during the fellowship?

Yes, applicants must remain clinically active throughout the award.

What research areas are covered by the Clinician Scientist Fellowship?

Basic, preclinical, imaging, radiotherapy, epidemiology, and early detection cancer research; clinical trials development and single-compound pharmaceutical research are excluded.

Is the Clinician Scientist Fellowship recurring?

Yes, this is an annual call; the next round opens on 7 July 2026.

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Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.