Therapeutic Catalyst

Overview Key information About the scheme Who is eligible? What is suitable for this scheme? What isn't suitable for this scheme? How are applications reviewed? What are the key timelines? What costs are funded? How do I apply? Who can I contact if I have questions? Other support and resources Back to top Share or print this page Overview

This scheme accelerates the translation of laboratory discoveries into novel cancer therapeutics.

Note: Applications to this scheme are currently paused while we review and refine the programme. We expect to relaunch this scheme in early July 2026.

We advise that you wait until further details are announced before preparing or submitting an application.

Key information Timelines

Applications are reviewed three times per year.

Funding period

Up to 18 months

Funding amount

Up to £250K per project

About the scheme

The Therapeutic Catalyst supports exploratory drug discovery focused on validating and de-risking targets, with the long-term goal of developing novel anti-tumoral single-agent therapeutics. This provides you with the opportunity to take your research idea from bench to patients with a single funder and partner.

Funded projects run collaboratively between academic and Cancer Research Horizons drug discovery laboratories (the Therapeutic Innovation team), with funding awarded by Cancer Research UK to further our charitable objectives.

From the proposal stage, you’ll be assigned a scientist from the Therapeutic Innovation team to support you throughout your proposal development, working with you to build and pitch the proposal. These scientists bring significant expertise and serve as a single point of contact to manage all the internal (Cancer Research Horizons drug discovery) and external resources required to deliver your proposed project.

If funded, the project is owned and managed by the grant-holder with advice/input from the Therapeutic Innovation team through catch-up meetings every four to six weeks where you’ll discuss progress, data and the next steps.

Find out more about Cancer Research Horizons

Who is eligible?

You can apply for our Therapeutic Catalyst 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.

What is suitable for this scheme?

This scheme aims to de-risk targets for the eventual development of novel single-agent anti-cancer therapeutics. 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 cancer indications and modalities. Some examples of projects we might fund include the following areas:

deconvolution and validation of novel targets and pathways

novel therapeutic approaches to validated targets

target identification projects (including development of platforms, assays and screens)

drug discovery feasibility and progressing more advanced assets

Childhood Cancer Therapeutic Catalyst

If your project has strong potential to deliver novel therapeutics for children and young people with cancer, you should explore our childhood cancer specific award.

Learn about the Childhood Cancer Therapeutic Catalyst

What isn't suitable for this scheme?

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

hit-finding activities

basic biological research relating to cancer

exploratory studies to uncover the underpinning mechanisms of therapeutic resistance

therapeutic combination studies

drug repositioning/repurposing approaches with clinically approved therapies

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

Contact the Therapeutic Catalyst team to discuss your proposal and whether it fits the remit of this scheme.

Email therapeutic.catalyst@cancer.org.uk

How are applications reviewed?

There are two stages to the application process.

Expression of interest

You must first submit an expression of interest. 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.

Full 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. The Therapeutic Innovation scientist (and anyone else at Cancer Research UK or Cancer Research Horizons directly involved in the proposal development) 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.

Assessment criteria

Successful applications are based on high impact scientific discoveries with a clear route of translation to benefit cancer patients (including robust proof of concept such as data on the cytotoxic effect observed in cancer models/cells upon target depletion/loss/inhibition, strong disease positioning hypothesis, patient relevant models for target validation or identification, etc).

The proposed project must reach an inflection point within the 18-month window, with validation of the hypothesis and positioning of the project for a drug discovery programme within Cancer Research Horizons laboratories, licensing, and/or further funding.

Feedback

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.

What are the key timelines?

Applications are reviewed three times per year in February, June and October. Deadlines for expressions of interest for 2025-2026 are as follows:

29 May 2026

25 September 2026

What costs are funded?

Successful projects will receive up to £250k for up to 18 months.

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.

Read our costs guidance

How do I apply?

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

Read relevant policies and guidance

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, 68.2 KB)

Applying through our grant management system

You can submit your expression of interest, manage your application and if successful, your grant through our online grants management system, Flexi-Grant.

Learn about Flexi-Grant

Who can I contact if I have questions?

Please contact us if you have questions about your eligibility, application or active award.

Contact therapeutic.catalyst@cancer.org.uk

Other support and resources Disability and accessibility adjustments

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

Applying for and managing your funding

Explore the resources, policies and other support we offer to help you understand how to apply for and manage your funding.

Explore our online guidanc