Secure Translational Funding
The Translational Research Office (TRO) manage a number of devolved funding streams targeting early stage proof-of-concept projects and have extensive knowledge of the UK translational funding landscape. We can help source the most appropriate funding scheme for projects and ensure that the most compelling cases for support are generated. Securing funding enables projects to progress along the translational path, de-risking future investment.
KEY ACTIVITIES
The TRO administrate translational proof-of-concept funding through the Medical and Life Sciences Translation Fund (MLSTF). The fund is open to all University of Oxford researchers and provides consolidated internal proof of concept funding for translational medical and life sciences projects.
The TRO is excited to announce the return of the Diagnostics in Tropical and Infectious Diseases funding call, building on from the successful piloting last year. The availability of funds, recently awarded by Wellcome, supports early-stage translational research activity within the Oxford community.
The TRO also identify the most appropriate external grant funding source for a project. A few of the translational research funding schemes available to researchers are:
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Gap fund for early-stage development of new healthcare interventions
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12th November 2025 4:00pm UK time |
£50,000 - £300,000 |
You can apply for academically led translational projects that aim to undertake a focused package of work that will bridge the gap between the inception of a new idea and substantive funding through schemes such as the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) to:
All human diseases and medical interventions are eligible for support, both in the context of UK healthcare and addressing global health issues. |
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14th November 2025 |
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Equalize Startups is a nonprofit launchpad dedicated to fueling the success of women founders in academia. The six-month programme offers expert training, personalised mentoring, in person networking, and a pitch competition – all designed to help women academic inventors successfully navigate the startup ecosystem. Equalizers must hold an academic appointment—tenured, tenure track, or research—or a post-doc or graduate student position at an academic research institution and have a pending or issued patent or copyright. |
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MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme: Stage One
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19th November 2025 4:00pm |
There is no limit on the amount of funding you can apply for, but it should be appropriate to the project. There is no limit to the duration of your project. You should justify the timescale of the project in the context of the proposed work. |
Apply for funding to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions. You can apply for academically-led translational projects that aim to either:
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4th December 2025 |
Flexible, from around £100k up to £600k for up to 5 years |
Biology to Prevention Awards support translational research that advances our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying cancer aetiology, genesis, and risk, with the goal of developing precision prevention interventions. The award will fund high quality, hypothesis-driven research with clear objectives and clear relevance to cancer prevention as outlined in our prevention research strategy. |
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Sanofi iDEA-TECH Awards Europe 2025-2026 |
12th December |
120 000€ in funding to support 1-year projects |
This program seeks to explore emerging science and technologies that can be applied across the therapeutic pipeline, with focus areas including real-world evidence, novel modalities, advanced imaging, multi-omics, disease modeling, process innovation, and safety assessment. For more information on iDEA-TECH Awards in general: Sanofi iDEA-iTECH Awards - Europe. |
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MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme: Stage Two
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There is no limit on the amount of funding you can apply for, but it should be appropriate to the project. There is no limit to the duration of your project. You should justify the timescale of the project in the context of the proposed work. |
Apply for funding to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions. You can apply for academically-led translational projects that aim to either:
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Cancer Research Horizons Seed Fund |
Rolling deadline |
£50k to £100-£500k, with ability to invest up to £1m on occasion. |
Early-stage validation, pre-seed, seed, and follow-on capital available. Contact: Gillian.Shuttleworth@cancer.org.uk |
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Cancer Research Horizons Data Innovation Awards |
Rolling deadline |
<£75k, <12 months |
Funding to support cleaning, annotation, curation, linking or storage of CRUK-funded data that has significant commercial potential. Contact: Gillian.Shuttleworth@cancer.org.uk |
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Cancer Research Horizons Entrepreneurial Programme |
Various (please check website) |
£10k to £70k |
Training opportunities to learn how to pitch your idea, build a business and attract investment. Early market discovery, accelerator, and startup funding available. Contact: Gillian.Shuttleworth@cancer.org.uk |
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Cancer Research Horizons Project Development Fund |
Rolling deadline |
<£50K (£50K + applications considered if strong rationale),<12 months |
To bridge a gap to get your project to the next stage. Proposal should have a clearly defined endpoint that is achievable in the short to medium term). CRUK-funding is a prerequisite and proposals must be consistent with Cancer Research Horizon's vision and purpose. Contact: Gillian.Shuttleworth@cancer.org.uk |
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Therapeutic Catalyst - Cancer Research UK
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Open until awarded. |
£250k 18 months |
Up to £250k for projects lasting up to 18 months. Drug discovery proposals, including, but not limited to: - Deconvolution and validation of novel targets and pathways with clear therapeutic potential - Novel therapeutic approaches to validated targets - Development of platforms, assays and screens to identify novel cancer therapeutics or targets. |
The TRO supports developing robust project plans and compelling applications for funding. Our Translational Research Managers can support grant writing activities, provide project management support and advise on long-term translational research strategies.
The TRO works closely with Oxford University Innovation (OUI), the Medical Sciences Business Partnerships Office (BPO) and University of Oxford's Research Services (RS) to ensure appropriate expertise and advice is sought at key stages in project development.