Read press release Biomarker Project Grants
Project grant applications in biomarker research will be assessed by the Biomarker Expert Review Panel, a sub-panel of the Science Committee. Applications will be considered covering research in all types of biomarkers (predisposition, screening, diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, pharmacological and surrogate response) using invasive (i.e., surgical specimens or biofluids) and imaging technologies (i.e., MRI, CT, PET, SPECT, other nuclear medicine methods, ultrasound or optical).
What is covered
Project grants will be accepted in any of the following areas:
1. Biomarker discovery
Proposed studies should be focused on the discovery/development of biomarker(s) for application on clinical material and not on understanding the biology of the disease. Projects will be considered that include: a) the definition of distribution of biomarker levels in a limited number of specimens, and; b) the retrospective study of the relationship between the biomarker and clinical outcome.
2. Biomarker assay development projects
Proposed studies may be conducted separately from the early assay set-up during the biomarker discovery stage or from the validation of the assay for use on clinical material. Please note that:
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- Cell lines may be used during the initial stage of assay development, but it is expected that the assay will be transferred to human samples during the project.
- The project application should not involve reagent generation – it is expected that this will have been completed before submission.
3. Biomarker qualification
Proposed studies may include the prospective study of the correlation between the biomarker and clinical outcome.
4. Imaging discovery and evaluation projects
Proposed studies may include all whole-body preclinical and clinical imaging studies, some development of imaging agents, contrast agents and other imaging technologies.
Applications with a focus on pancreatic, brain, oesophageal or lung cancer are strongly encouraged.
You are advised to refer to the following additional information before applying to this scheme:
- Biomarker roadmaps (diagnostic, pharmacological, prognostic/predictive or screening) for a schematic representation of the different projects supported
- Biomarker definitions for description of terms.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from scientists, clinicians or healthcare workers in UK universities, medical schools, hospitals and some research institutions.
Period of funding
There is no minimum or maximum duration; this should be driven by the research. However, projects have a typical duration of 36 months and are not generally longer than 60 months.
Funding value
There is no minimum or maximum award value; this should be driven by the research. However, applications typically do not exceed £100,000 per annum.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted via our electronic Grants Management System (eGMS). See How to Apply for more information on submitting your application via eGMS. Please note that applications are only fully submitted to Cancer Research UK once approved by your host institution administrators.
For details of what is expected in a biomarker project grant application, and assistance with completing your application, please refer to the Guidelines for preparing a Science Committee biomarker project grant (PDF, 452KB).
Please note that applications that do not contain the information required, or which are not within the remit of the scheme, will be returned and may be withdrawn. If you are unsure whether your project is appropriate for this scheme, please contact the Science Committee team.
Submission deadlines
| Preliminary submissions | Final submissions | Committee review |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | 2 Dec 2013 | Apr 2014 |
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