Independent academic researchers with their own lab at a university or research institute worldwide, proposing early drug-discovery work for a novel anti-cancer therapeutic target.

What burden and restrictions apply?

No source-specific burden or use-of-funds rule was established in this review.

What evidence exists?

No source-specific outcome was established. The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and acceptance rate for the next cycle.

Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Catalyst

GBP grant: Target awards up to £250,000 and Early Therapy awards up to £350,000 · Cancer Research UK · deadline 2026-09-25

Cancer Research UK's global Therapeutic Catalyst supports independent academic researchers to validate and de-risk novel anti-cancer therapeutic targets in collaboration with Cancer Research Horizons drug-discovery scientists. Current lifecycle: open; next verified deadline 2026-09-25. Real economics: GBP grant: Target awards up to £250,000 and Early Therapy awards up to £350,000.

Tier 3foundationukhealthcancer

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	Cancer Research UK
Amount	GBP grant: Target awards up to £250,000 and Early Therapy awards up to £350,000
Deadline	2026-09-25
Decision time	No dependable comparable application-to-decision interval was published in the reviewed public corpus.
Eligibility	Independent academic researchers with their own lab at a university or research institute worldwide, proposing early drug-discovery work for a novel anti-cancer therapeutic target.
Restrictions	Up to £250,000 for direct project resources over up to 18 months. The work must validate/de-risk a novel single-agent anti-cancer therapeutic target; basic biology, diagnostics, prevention, repurposing, combination studies, and late preclinical development are outside scope. Resubmission is allowed only if the committee recommends it.
Status	open

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Contact the Therapeutic Catalyst team for an initial confidential fit discussion
Submit an expression of interest through Cancer Research UK's Flexi-Grant system
Internal cross-functional triage for therapeutic potential, feasibility, eligibility, and strategic fit
If invited, co-develop a full costed proposal and timeline with an assigned Therapeutic Innovation scientist
Independent external Therapeutic Catalyst Review Panel makes the final funding decision

Background

Cancer Research UK operates Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Catalyst. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. No source-specific outcome was established in this review.

How the application really works

Contact the Therapeutic Catalyst team for an initial confidential fit discussion → Submit an expression of interest through Cancer Research UK's Flexi-Grant system → Internal cross-functional triage for therapeutic potential, feasibility, eligibility, and strategic fit → If invited, co-develop a full costed proposal and timeline with an assigned Therapeutic Innovation scientist → Independent external Therapeutic Catalyst Review Panel makes the final funding decision

Tips

Show direct fit with innovation.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is open.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: open. Next verified deadline: 2026-09-25.
What is the real economic value?: GBP grant: Target awards up to £250,000 and Early Therapy awards up to £350,000
Who is eligible?: Independent academic researchers with their own lab at a university or research institute worldwide, proposing early drug-discovery work for a novel anti-cancer therapeutic target.
How does selection work?: Contact the Therapeutic Catalyst team for an initial confidential fit discussion; Submit an expression of interest through Cancer Research UK's Flexi-Grant system; Internal cross-functional triage for therapeutic potential, feasibility, eligibility, and strategic fit; If invited, co-develop a full costed proposal and timeline with an assigned Therapeutic Innovation scientist; Independent external Therapeutic Catalyst Review Panel makes the final funding decision. No dependable comparable application-to-decision interval was published in the reviewed public corpus.
What burden and restrictions apply?: No source-specific burden or use-of-funds rule was established in this review.
What evidence exists?: No source-specific outcome was established. The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and acceptance rate for the next cycle.

Sources

www.cancerresearchuk.org/for-researchers/apply-for-and-manage-your-funding/our-funding-schemes/therapeutic-catalyst — Official programme page reviewed for eligibility, economics, lifecycle and application route (checked 2026-08-10)