What is the Development Fund?

The CRUK Convergence Science Centre supports researchers across our partner institutions with funding opportunities aimed at exploring new approaches to cancer research, training the next generation of convergence scientists, and develop innovative technologies with a real-world impact on clinical practice.

The Centre supports emerging ideas with its own seed funding scheme: the Development Fund. The aim is to promote new approaches and accelerate the adoption of new innovations in clinical practice and research. The primary intention of this seed funding is to develop the preliminary data required to build a more substantive project that could attract funding from external sources.

What are we looking for?

This year’s Development Fund theme is based on the integration of the concepts of Precision Medicine, Convergence Therapies, and Therapy Monitoring. The vision driving this theme is that every new diagnostic tool must guide a treatment decision, and every treatment must have a mechanism for monitoring its response. 

We are seeking innovations in Discovery Research and Translational Medicine that tackle key challenges by integrating:

• Innovative research in diagnostic tools, methodologies, or technologies that leverage data science, engineering, or physical sciences to enhance diagnosis and inform personalised treatment decisions. Emphasis should be placed on innovations that pave the way for the implementation of novel therapies or interventions.  

• Innovative research in novel therapies or interventions that incorporate real-time, built-in monitoring systems to track treatment effectiveness, or tools and methodologies that enable medium- to long-term monitoring of treatment response. 

Cross-institutional applications are encouraged but not mandatory. Please note, the Centre does not fund drug discovery projects.

What is available?

Awards of up to £80K for a 12-month period are available to support the development of preliminary data required to build a more substantive project that could attract investment from external sources. 

How to apply

Read the guidance document for more information and eligibility criteria. Complete the application form and send it to icr-imperial-convergence.centre@imperial.ac.uk by Friday 31st January 2025.

Development Fund Guidelines 2025

Development Fund 2025 Application Form

Funding decisions are managed by our Research Subcommittee.

If you have any questions, please email icr-imperial-convergence.centre@imperial.ac.uk.