Therapeutic Catalyst
Supports collaborative early-stage drug discovery research to advance laboratory findings into novel cancer therapeutics, focusing on target validation and de-risking for future clinical development.
Funder: Cancer Research UK
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2026 (Expression of interest) | May 2027 (Expression of interest)
Funding Amounts: Up to £250,000 per project for up to 18 months; direct research costs only.
Summary: Supports collaborative, early-stage drug discovery projects to accelerate translation of laboratory findings into novel cancer therapeutics.
Key Information: Applications are currently paused; scheme expected to relaunch in July 2026.
Description
The scheme is designed to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into novel cancer therapeutics by supporting exploratory drug discovery projects, particularly those focused on validating and de-risking potential drug targets. The goal is to progress projects to a critical inflection point within 18 months, enabling further drug discovery, licensing, or additional funding. Projects are collaborative, involving both academic researchers and Cancer Research Horizons drug discovery laboratories, with dedicated scientific support provided throughout proposal development and delivery. The scheme emphasizes high-impact discoveries with clear patient benefit and offers a single funder-partner pathway from bench to clinical application.
