Clinician Scientist Fellowship
About this scheme
Key information
Applications are considered from any area of our funding remit, with the exception of clinical trials and drug discovery.
You should:
- Have obtained a higher degree (MD/PhD) in a cancer-relevant research area
- Have obtained your CCT and hold consultant status, or a national training number (NTN or NTN(A)) and at the time of award have clear plans for obtaining your CCT
- Have the support of an appropriate research group and supervisor at a UK university or research institute1
- Be able to demonstrate that you meet the range of skills and experience as outlined in the 'developing independence’ career stage in our Fellowships Competency Framework2
You should not:
- Have held any previous substantive postdoctoral fellowships
- Have a tenured academic post at a higher education institute or research institute.
1Fellowships must be hosted in a UK university or research institute. Short periods of research experience away from the host institution may be requested and must be fully justified.
Funding support is provided for:
- Your salary at the appropriate speciality registrar or honorary consultant grade
- Salary for one research/technical support post, but the need for assistance will need to be fully justified in your application
- Associated running expenses
- Equipment costs up to £25,000
- Relocation costs up to £1,000 if you wish to take up your fellowship at a new host institution (see application guidelines for more details)
Additional support
Our fellowships offer a range of benefits beyond funding, including access to networking and training opportunities, flexible working policies and an accelerated route through the Tier 1 visa system.
How to apply to this scheme
Application process
Applications for this scheme are considered twice a year, and the application process has three stages.
- Preliminary Application: reviewed and shortlisted by the Research Careers Committee*.
- Full application: If shortlisted, you will be invited to submit a full application. This will be assessed by an Expert Review Panel and will include an interview.
- Committee Review: The Research Careers Committee meet to review the funding recommendations of the Expert Review Panels and make the final funding decision.
How to Apply
We are currently migrating to a new grants management system. It will be available for you to complete an Outline application in mid-October. Ahead of time, you can prepare your research proposal - details can be found in the Preliminary application guidelines, and complete a Skills and Experience form. If you intend to apply to the scheme please let the office know by emailing fellowships@cancer.org.uk and we can alert you to when the new system is available.
Timelines
| Preliminary application deadline | Shortlisting | Full application deadline | Interviews |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3 November 2020 |
26 January 2021 |
March 2021 |
May 2021 |
*The Research Careers Committee is a new CRUK Committee that will replace the New Investigator Committee and the Clinical Careers Committee. The Research Careers Committee will cover both remits and review all associated schemes. If you would like more detail on Committee composition, please email fellowships@cancer.org.uk.
Before you begin your application
You must read:
The Research Careers Committee will judge your proposal on:
- Scientific excellence: whether you have a strong scientific rationale to support the proposed research proposal.
- Cancer-relevance: the value of the proposed work in advancing the fundamental understanding of cancer or improving how cancer is diagnosed and/or treated.
- Your own track record and potential to produce outstanding results
- The strength of your research team and research environment
Case studies
Read advice from successful applicants.
Dr Marnix Jansen
Marnix talked to us about how he successfully applied for a CRUK Clinician Scientist Fellowship, and how it is enabling him to build a career in translational research.
Dr Michelle Lockley
Michelle told us how the support she received during her Clinician Scientist Fellowship helped her develop scientific independence and learn how to lead a lab team, and how she made the next step with an Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellowship.
Dr Ultan McDermott
Ultan talked to us about how his Clinician Scientist Fellowship has created time to develop as both a clinician and a scientist, and how he manages the competing demands of the dual role.
Dr Ferdia Gallagher
Ferdia talked to us about what CRUK funding has helped him to achieve, from his clinical PhD to his current Fellowship, and his experience as a clinician of participating in multidisciplinary collaborations in imaging research.
Dr Serena Nik-Zainal
Serena explains why she chose CRUK to further her career, and her research to decipher the mutational signatures that occur in cancer cells.
Dr Geoff Higgins
Geoff shares his advice on planning a grant application and preparing for a fellowship interview, and his experience of how clinical academic careers are changing with increasing funding opportunities.
Dr James O’Connor
James from The University of Manchester and The Christie Hospital, describes what it means to be a clinician scientist, and how important the role is for making sure new treatments and technology reach the clinic as soon as possible.
Applications are assessed by international, Expert Review Panels and funding decisions are made by the Research Careers Committee.
Cancer Research UK contact details
Please contact your Research Grants Manager if you have questions about your eligibility for this scheme or require any assistance with your application or active award
For Cambridge, Manchester, Scotland, The North of England (incl Newcastle), Wales
Dr Flora Scott, Research Grants Manager: fellowships@cancer.org.uk
For London, Oxford, Southampton, Birmingham, Northern Ireland, The South
Dr Victoria Walker, Research Grants Manager: fellowships@cancer.org.uk
Please contact your Research Programme Manager if you would like to hear more about the support we offer e.g. CRUK Fellow meetings, activities and training, and to share any potential challenges you might face
For London, Oxford, Southampton, Birmingham, Northern Ireland, The South
Dr Marjolein (Lein) Schaap, Research Programme Manager: fellowships@cancer.ok.uk
For Cambridge, Manchester, Scotland, The North of England (incl Newcastle), Wales
Dr Lorenzo de la Rica, Research Programme Manager: fellowships@cancer.ok.uk
More career development opportunities for researchers
We offer a range of fellowships, bursaries and other support to help outstanding scientists and clinicians develop their independent research careers.
Case study
Dr Marnix Jansen talked to us about how he successfully applied for a Clinician Scientist Fellowship, and how it is enabling him to build a career in translational research.