Career Establishment Award
Forecasted
Career Establishment Award supports new group leaders with cancer-relevant research funding and leadership development to build independent groups and advance cancer understanding, prevention, diagnosis or treatment.
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Funder: Cancer Research UK
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Full application) | March 2027 (Outline) | September 2027 (Full application) | October 2027 (Outline)
Funding Amounts: Typically up to £1 million over six years, or part-time equivalent (non-renewable)
Summary: Supports new group leaders establishing independent, cancer-relevant research programmes.
Key Information: Applicants must have fully funded salaries throughout the award; new outline applications from clinicians are ineligible.
Description
Cancer Research UK’s Career Establishment Award supports new group leaders who already hold salaried independent positions and are ready to establish their own research groups. It funds cancer-relevant programmes across basic biology, preclinical studies, imaging, radiotherapy, engineering and physical sciences, population research and early detection. Proposals must articulate a clear cancer-related question and explain how the results could change cancer understanding, prevention, diagnosis or treatment, including potential clinical, policy or practice applications.
Strategic priorities include early detection and cancers of unmet need: brain, lung, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver and stomach cancer. Alongside research funding, the scheme offers mentoring, a mid-term progress review and funding for laboratory leadership training to support the development of independent groups.
