Funding

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 5 (2026)

Funding streams available in this round are:

Fellowships (open to internal and external candidates)

Cancer Research Transition Fellowships (up to 3 years, £350k)

Cancer Research Doctoral (CRD) Fellowships (up to 4 years, £350K)

Small Grants Award (Pump Priming) (open to internal applicants only)

£200k per award, 2 years duration, Directly Incurred costs only, Salary (for non-tenured ECRs), Consumables, Travel, Open-access publishing, Public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE), External lab placements 

Doctoral Training Programme

£3.5M, to be led by Professor Alison Gartland

All proposals must deliver against one or more of the five themes of the University’s cancer research strategy, and all applications must go through internal review at the university prior to submission to Yorkshire Cancer Research. 

The Outline application deadline is 12 December 2025 at 5pm.

Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers fund - Round 5 (2026)

Yorkshire Cancer Research More Life to Live fund - Round 5 (2026)

This scheme is ring fenced for The University of Sheffield applicants only.  Proposals should test the latest innovations in the NHS or local communities.  

Projects and clinical trials are invited in the following areas

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 deadline for Stage 1 applications is 4th December 2025 at noon.

Yorkshire Cancer Research More Life to Live fund - Round 5 (2026)

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 ycr_schemes@sheffield.ac.uk. 

Governance

The University's Vice President and Head of the Faculty of Health chairs the University of Sheffield Cancer Research Oversight Board which oversees the development of the cancer research strategy across the university, its alignment with the university strategy for research and innovation and the institution's utilisation of strategic funding. 

The Board comprises the Vice Presidents for all five of the University's faculties, alongside the Deputy Vice President for Innovation.  The Board also includes the Commercial Director and Manager, the Head of Finance for the Faculty of Health and, from Research, Partnerships and Innovation, the Head of Faculty Research Growth for Health and the Research Growth Manager for cancer research, plus the Head of Campaign Management from Campaigns & Alumni Relations.  The Co-Directors of the university's cancer research strategy and the chair of the internal review panel are also members. 

The Internal Review Panel is chaired by Prof Dan Lambert, Faculty Director of Research & Innovation for Health.  The Panel ensures that all applications submitted from the university to Yorkshire Cancer Research are aligned with the cancer research strategies of either Yorkshire Cancer Research (for YCR More Life to Live) or the University of Sheffield (for YCR Sheffield Pioneers).  The Panel also provides feedback and ensures that applications submitted are of high quality.  The Internal Review Panel reports to the Cancer Research Oversight Board.  University of Sheffield staff can find the Terms of Reference of the Internal Review Panel here.  External applicants may contact ycr_schemes@sheffield.ac.uk to obtain a copy.

The Sheffield Cancer Research Executive is chaired by Prof Jim Catto, NIHR Research Professor, Professor of Surgery, and Prof Penny Ottewell, Professor of Cancer Biology, with the cancer research domain leads and operational support staff.  The Executive meets quarterly to facilitate the implementation of the university’s cancer research strategy across the institution.  The Executive reports to the Cancer Research Oversight Board.

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

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. 

Find out how the RSS can help with your application

Cancer Research UK

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)

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

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

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 ycr_schemes@sheffield.ac.uk in the first instance to find out more about available funding and opportunities.