This scheme provides opportunities to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into novel cancer therapeutics.
Applications are reviewed three times per year. Upcoming application deadline: 25 September 2026
Between 12 and 24 months, depending on award type
Up to £250K or £350k per project, depending on award type
We’re expanding the translational opportunities available to academic researchers, enabling you to take your research idea from the laboratory through to patients with a single funder and partner. Our Therapeutic Catalyst awards are focused on new ways to treat adult cancers using antibody-based therapeutics or small molecule approaches spanning the whole range of formats within these modalities. Projects are run collaboratively by an academic laboratory and Cancer Research Horizons' team of over 180 experienced drug discovery scientists. Before making an application, we strongly recommend that you discuss the project with a member of our Therapeutic Translation team within Cancer Research Horizons. They can support you with advice on the available schemes and the application process.
Find out more about Cancer Research Horizons
Email therapeutic.translation@cancer.org.uk
This award can provide funding of up to £250k for 12 - 18 months.
It is focused on one of two areas:
cancer target identification – using novel model systems and/or analytical methods
validation of novel cancer targets – including insights into cancer target dependency and clinical positioning
Such projects may include collaborative approaches with our Functional Genomics Centre which uses leading CRISPR methodologies.
This award can provide funding of up to £350K for 18 - 24 months.
It is focused on:
hit identification enabling work
experimental assessment of druggability (e.g. by fragment screening)
further development of an early therapeutic project
In addition to grant funding, we also offer multi-year collaborations on therapeutic discovery projects. We co-develop a therapeutic approach or explore a series of targets alongside you, contributing funding and providing access to our in-house drug discovery expertise and resources.
Contact us to discuss our Therapeutic Discovery Partnerships
For proposals related to the development of treatments (all modalities) for children and young people with cancer, please refer to our Childhood Cancer Therapeutic Catalyst award.
You can apply for any of our Therapeutic Catalyst awards if you are an academic researcher based at any university or research institute world-wide. You should also have your own lab and/or perform independent research.
This scheme is open to global applications.
Projects with a strong therapeutic potential and a clear patient benefit opportunity are taken into consideration.
We invite applications for early drug discovery proposals from across all adult cancer indications and all types of antibody or small molecule formats. This can also include new approaches to existing targets if there is a compelling differentiation hypothesis.
The following types of projects are not within the remit of this scheme and will not be progressed:
target identification proposals based solely on the use of gene silencing or editing methods in commercially available tumour cell lines
fundamental biological research relating to cancer
exploratory studies to uncover the underpinning mechanisms of therapeutic resistance
drug repositioning/repurposing approaches with therapies that have already been clinically approved for use in oncology
preclinical development studies to initiate clinical trials (for example bulk synthesis/manufacture to Good Manufacturing Practice, toxicology to Good Clinical Practice)
drug product toxicology, formulation and delivery
development of technology to address an area in early detection, diagnostic field or prevention
There are two stages to the application process.
You must first submit an expression of interest making it clear which award you are applying for (i.e. Target or Early Therapy). An internal cross-functional committee will triage and review the therapeutic potential of the project and feasibility for eligibility and strategic fit. If successful, you will be invited to submit a full project proposal.
If you are invited to submit a full proposal, one of our scientists will be assigned to work with you to create a collaborative and costed project proposal and timeline, led by the principal investigator. There is no guarantee of funding at this stage. Anyone at Cancer Research UK or Cancer Research Horizons who has been directly involved in development of the proposal will not be involved in the final funding decision.
The scheme adheres to AMRC expert review principles. Submitted applications will be reviewed by the Therapeutic Catalyst Review Panel of independent, external and cross-functional experts who make the final funding decision.
Successful applications are based on high impact scientific discoveries with a clear route of translation to benefit cancer patients. This should include:
robust proof of concept such as data on the effect observed in multiple cancer cell lines/models upon target modulation
a strong disease positioning hypothesis
ideally use of patient relevant models for target validation or identification
The proposed project must reach an inflection point within the duration of the award to position it for a subsequent drug discovery programme within Cancer Research Horizons laboratories, licensing, and/or further funding.
We will provide feedback on your application, but all funding decisions are final. Panel members cannot discuss their decisions with applicants, so please do not approach them directly. This allows our panel members to keep the Code of Practice for Funding Committees and Panels, which keeps our review process fair and protects applicants, committee members and external reviewers.
Our review process is extremely important to us, so we reserve the right to decline applications from anyone who compromises its integrity. We do not accept resubmissions, unless recommended by the committee.
Applications are reviewed three times per year in February, June and October with a deadline for submission in the preceding month.
The remaining 2026 submission date is 25 September.
This funding covers resources externally from the applying academic laboratory and/or outsourced activities. Academic funding can be provided for staff time (research or technical) and any associated running expenses as set out in our costs guidance.
In the UK, as an AMRC charity, we fund the direct costs of research.
For funding issued in the UK, we will not cover indirect costs.
For all funding issued to host institutions based in the US, we will cover indirect costs up to 10% of the value of the direct costs of research funded through the award.
We will consider funding indirect costs to host institutions only in jurisdictions where indirect costs are typically funded through charitable or public research grant funding, up to 10% of the value of the direct costs of research funded through the award.
If you are interested in applying, please complete our expression of interest form via our online management system, Flexi-Grant. We recommend that you contact us before applying for a confidential initial discussion of your project, feedback, timeframe, application process, etc.
Access our expression of interest form
Contact therapeutic.catalyst@cancer.org.uk
We recommend you also read additional guidance such as our costs guidance, grant conditions, and other policies to understand any additional requirements before applying.
Please note that this scheme is also bound by the terms and conditions linked below.
Read our research policies and guidance
Read the Therapeutic Catalyst special terms and conditions(PDF, 450 KB)
You can submit your expression of interest, manage your application and if successful, your grant through our online grants management system, Flexi-Grant.
Please contact us if you have questions about your eligibility, application or active award.
Reasonable adjustments can be made throughout the grant application process. We do not require a formal diagnosis to access support.
Find out about our disability and accessibility support
Explore the resources, policies and other support we offer to help you understand how to apply for and manage your funding.
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