Application process

Application process

UCRF Funding calls 

Amount 

Application closing date 

Notes 

Seedcorn annual funding call 

Up to £8,000 

14th July 2026 

closed

Investing in Early/Mid-Career Cancer Researchers 2026 

Up to £30,000 

12 noon, 14th Dec 2026 

open

The Early to Mid-Career Cancer Researchers: Funding Opportunity 

Ready to take the next step towards research independence? 

The University Cancer Research Fund (UCRF) is delighted to launch its annual Early to Mid-Career Researcher Funding Scheme, supporting promising cancer researchers to develop their research ideas, build independence and establish new collaborations. 

Funding is available for up to 24 months from March 2027, with applications particularly encouraged from researchers who are:

· Developing their own independent cancer research programme.

· Looking to strengthen their cancer research track record.

· Building interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle cancer research from new perspectives.

Who can apply?

Applicants should:

· Be a University of Bristol staff member.

· Hold a relevant postgraduate research degree (PhD or Masters).

· Be within the first five years (excluding authorised leave) of their first post leading towards an independent research programme. This includes Research Assistant, Senior Research Associate, Lecturer, Research Fellow, Academic Clinical Lecturer, or equivalent.

· Have a strong track record of research and delivering outputs, such as publications, with career breaks and years of experience taken into account.

What can the funding support?

Awards can support a range of research costs up to £30,000 if fully justified, including:

· PI or researcher salary costs.

· Research consumables.

· Travel and conference costs.

· Facility costs.

This is an opportunity to turn a promising idea into a programme of research with the potential to make a meaningful contribution to cancer research.

Application forms and full terms and conditions are available on the Cancer Network's SharePoint page (University of Bristol staff).

UCRF Chair: Professor Athene Lane

UCRF website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/cancer/ucrf/

Questions? Please contact uob-crf@bristol.ac.uk.

Don't miss the deadline! 12 noon, Monday 14 December 2026

If you have an idea that could help advance cancer research, this could be your opportunity to take it forward.

 

The 2026 Seedcorn Grants scheme is now CLOSED to applications.