Drug Development Project
Cancer Research UK's CDD supports the development of novel cancer agents from preclinical stages to early clinical trials with expert resources, not monetary funding.
Funder: Cancer Research UK
Due Dates: Rolling (proposals accepted year-round; reviewed up to four times per year)
Funding Amounts: No direct funding; provides scientific, clinical, and operational support for drug development projects.
Summary: Supports advancement of novel cancer agents from preclinical through early clinical trials with expert support, not monetary awards.
Key Information: Applicants must contact the program for a confidential discussion before submitting a proposal.
Description
This scheme is designed to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments by supporting projects from preclinical stages through to early phase patient trials. Rather than providing direct grant funding, Cancer Research UK's Centre for Drug Development (CDD) offers expert scientific, clinical, and operational resources to manage and sponsor approved projects. The focus is on novel anti-cancer agents—including small molecules, biologicals, and other therapeutic modalities—with strong scientific rationale and supporting in vivo efficacy data.
Projects can include preclinical development, Phase 1 trials (including first-in-human and first-in-class studies), combination trials, early Phase 2 hypothesis-testing trials, and studies on unlicensed or repurposed agents. The CDD partners with both academic and industry applicants, managing all aspects of trial design, regulatory compliance, and clinical delivery in UK and European centres.
