Funding
The University of Sheffield and the charity Yorkshire Cancer Research have worked together to develop a new multi-million-pound fund, available exclusively to researchers at all career levels at the University, which will lay the foundation for ground-breaking cancer research in years to come.
In 2005, pioneering research at the University of Sheffield, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, successfully demonstrated how PARP inhibitors could be used as a tailored treatment for patients with BRCA mutations.
The discovery was patent-protected and licensed to KuDOS, a pharmaceutical company later acquired by AstraZeneca, who continued the development process and undertook successful clinical trials. This resulted in the development of three drugs called Lynparza, Zejula and Talzenna.
Lynparza – a PARP inhibitor also known as olaparib – became the first cancer drug targeting an inherited genetic fault to be made available on the NHS.
This work has enabled Yorkshire Cancer Research to establish two funds, ringfenced for applications led by University of Sheffield staff: the Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers fund and the Yorkshire Cancer Research More Life to Live fund (included under the Yorkshire Cancer Research scheme called 'For Healthier, Longer Lives in Yorkshire and Beyond' for 2024).
Read more on the pioneering work that led to the generation of this new fund
Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers Fund Round 4 (2025)
Proposals must deliver against one or more of the five themes of the University’s cancer research strategy.
Funding streams available are:
- Fellowships (open to internal and external candidates)
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Cancer Research Doctoral Fellowships (3.5 years, £350k)
Cancer Research Transition Fellowships (up to 3 years, £350k)
Cancer Research Advanced Fellowships (up to 5 years, up to £1.25million)
- Projects
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~£100K - £1m per award, Directly Incurred costs only, staff, equipment, consumables
- Programme Award
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£1M - 3M per award, 5 years duration, Directly Incurred costs only, staff, equipment, consumables
- Transformative capital investment
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£100k - £5 million per award up to 5 years.
Must facilitate a step-change in cancer research at the University of Sheffield or the sensitivity, cost or throughput of diagnostic clinical tests and/or standard of care.
This includes: new equipment and staff needed to operate/develop it; developing new instrumentation/technology platforms; upgrades to existing equipment, facilities or built environments
All applications to these funds must go through internal review at the university prior to submission to Yorkshire Cancer Research.
The internal review deadline is 13 December 2024 at 5pm.
Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers fund 2024 (internal site)
Yorkshire Cancer Research More Life to Live fund 2024
Proposals should test the latest innovations in the NHS or local communities.
The funding streams available are:
- Projects and clinical trials in these areas
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Reducing the risk of developing cancer
Improving early diagnosis and cancer screening
Improving treatments
Reducing cancer-related health inequalities.
All applications to these funds must go through internal review at the university prior to submission to Yorkshire Cancer Research. The deadlines for Stage 1 applications are:
- 5pm, 7 November 2024: Send a one page summary of your proposal to cancer_research@sheffield.ac.uk by to enable selection of reviewers
- 5pm, 21 November 2024: Send a pdf of your application to cancer_research@sheffield.ac.uk for internal review
- 12pm, 5 December 2024: Submit your application to Yorkshire Cancer Research
Yorkshire Cancer Research More Life to Live fund 2024 (internal site)
External applicants
The above schemes are ringfenced for applications led by University of Sheffield staff. The exception to this is that fellowships within the Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers scheme are open to both internal members of staff as well as external candidates. External applicants must have a nominated mentor/supervisor with a substantive contract at the university.
For both schemes above, external colleagues may join applications as co-applicants. This includes those based in the higher education sector, the public sector (including NHS), in industry and the charitable sector, whether in the UK or abroad.
For more information on opportunities and advice, please contact Zoe Lingard, Cancer Research Growth Manager via cancer_research@sheffield.ac.uk.
Wider cancer research funding opportunities
University of Sheffield researchers are funded from a range of funders, including the Medical Research Council and other UK Research & Innovation councils, charities such as Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust and industrial sponsors.
- NIHR
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Got a research idea and not sure how to turn it into a funding application? The Research Design Service (RDS) supports health and social care researchers across England on all aspects of developing and writing a funding application.
- Cancer Research UK
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Data Innovation Award: for CRUK-funded researchers working on a CRUK-funded research project that will generate a dataset of value, or have already generated a dataset, but need funding to make it suitable for sharing (up to £75k; applications accepted all year round)
Therapeutic Catalyst: Up to £250k for up to 18 months; applications accepted all year round
Cancer Research Horizons Seed Fund: Various award types from £50k to £500k; applications accepted all year round
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
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Centre of Research Excellence Round 2 to tackle complex and interdisciplinary health challenges (up to £26.5m over 14 years).
Outline application deadline: 7 Feb 2024
There was a meeting on 10 November 2023 to discuss and scope Sheffield's bid. Contact Professor Chris Toseland (c.toseland@sheffield.ac.uk) to find out more.
- Prostate Cancer UK
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Thinking of applying for one of Prostate Cancer UK’s grant calls? You can request support from their Patient Representative Network.
The funder strongly encourages applicants to actively involve patients and the public to help shape and deliver their research project from conception to the dissemination of results. The involvement of people affected by prostate cancer can lead to better quality applications and improved outcomes of research, thus resulting in applications that are more likely to receive funding.
If you would like support to involve people affected by prostate cancer in your research, we can put you in contact with members of our Patient Representative Network.
- HEIF, QR policy support, EPSRC and STFC knowledge exchange funding
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The guidance document, FAQs and the new EOI form are available on our knowledge exchange webpages (staff login required).
Calls usually close in late October, late February and late June. Expressions of Interest may be invited one to three months before the call closes.
Speak to your faculty's knowledge exchange team to find out the process.
Would you like to join us at the University of Sheffield?
External applicants may apply for a fellowship through the Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers scheme. Please contact the team at cancer_research@sheffield.ac.uk in the first instance to find out more about available funding and opportunities.