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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BBSRC Follow-on Fund: 2025 round two
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15 October 2025 4:00pm |
£100,000 - £800,000 |
The BBSRC FoF is designed to enable researchers, with a sound understanding of the market opportunity of their intellectual assets, to execute a defined programme of work that has clear objectives. Projects considered through this programme must:
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Rosetrees Translational Fellows Award
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30 September 2025 4:00pm UK time |
Up to £150,000 over 2 years |
The aim of the Award is to catalyse translational research that will provide patient benefit within 5 to 10 years. Research can include:
Applicants will need to demonstrate that the objectives of their proposal to Rosetrees are unique and distinct to that of their career development fellowship. Projects should have clearly defined milestones and demonstrate progress in the technology readiness level (TRL) of the research. The definition of TRLs can be found here. |
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UKRI Experimental medicine stage one
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1 October 2025 4:00pm UK time |
£10,000,000 No limit to duration |
Apply for funding to investigate the causes, progression and treatment of human disease. Your project must:
This is an ongoing funding opportunity. Application rounds close every April and October. |
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Gap fund for early-stage development of new healthcare interventions
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12 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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MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme: Stage One
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19 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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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.