Cancer Research UK
Therapeutic Catalyst
Remaining 2026 submission date; applications reviewed three times per year (February, June, October)
Last updated:
Therapeutic Catalyst funds exploratory drug discovery projects to validate and de-risk cancer therapy targets, offering up to £250,000 over 18 months. The scheme is open to academic researchers worldwide with their own lab, working in partnership with Cancer Research Horizons' Therapeutic Innovation team on single-agent novel therapeutics. The call does not support basic biological research, drug combinations, or repurposing.
Details
| Funder | Cancer Research UK |
| Budget | Up to £250k (Target Award) or up to £350k (Early Therapy Award) |
| Deadline | 25 September 2026 |
| Duration | 12–24 months depending on award type |
| Consortium | Optional — projects are run collaboratively with Cancer Research Horizons' drug discovery team, but the academic researcher leads the application |
| Application | 2-stage: Expression of Interest → Full proposal (by invitation only) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Open to academic researchers worldwide with an independent lab, targeting early drug discovery for adult cancers using antibody-based or small molecule approaches. Two award types: Target Award (up to £250k, 12–18 months) for target identification/validation; Early Therapy Award (up to £350k, 18–24 months) for hit identification and druggability assessment. Fundamental biology, drug repurposing, and clinical-trial-enabling studies are excluded.
Who Should Apply
- •Academic researchers worldwide with their own lab or independent research position
- •Applicants with expertise in drug discovery or target validation
- •Projects on novel single-agent anti-cancer therapeutics
- •Teams willing to collaborate with Cancer Research Horizons' Therapeutic Innovation team
Key Dates
- •Expression of interest deadline: 25 September 2026
- •Two-stage process: EOI shortlisting, then full proposal submission
- •Project duration: up to 18 months
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Establish your partnership with Cancer Research Horizons' Therapeutic Innovation team early, they are a mandatory collaborator, not an optional consultant.
- ✓Frame your project around target validation and de-risking, not basic mechanistic biology; CRUK panels screen explicitly for translational readiness.
- ✓Single-agent focus is strict; any hint of combination therapy or repurposing will be ruled out at triage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Catalyst grant?
Up to £250,000 per project over an 18-month period.
Who is eligible for Therapeutic Catalyst?
Academic researchers worldwide with their own lab or independent research position working on novel single-agent anti-cancer therapeutics.
What research is not eligible for Therapeutic Catalyst?
The scheme does not support basic biological research, combination therapy studies, or drug repurposing projects.
When is the Therapeutic Catalyst deadline?
The next expression of interest deadline is 25 September 2026; the scheme relaunched in July 2026 after a pause.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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