Yorkshire Cancer Research – 2025 Sheffield Pioneers Funding (round 4) content
About the funding round
Yorkshire Cancer Research has established a unique funding stream that can only be applied for by principal applicants based at the University of Sheffield. All proposals submitted to these funds must undertake cancer research that will ultimately improve the cancer outcome for people within the region and beyond.
All applications submitted to the funding stream must have gone through the University of Sheffield’s internal review process and be approved by the University of Sheffield to apply. For more information on the University of Sheffield selection process please contact Research Services at Sheffield by emailing cancer_research@sheffield.ac.uk.
Key dates and deadlines
Scheme launches
26 February 2025
Application deadline
23 May 2025, 12:00pm
Peer Review Starts
June 2025
Research Review Comittee
November 2025
University of Sheffield Strategic and Financial Assessment
November 2025
Board of Trustees Decision
December 2025
Outcome to Applicants
January 2026
Eligibility
Except for Fellowship Awards, applications will only be accepted from Principal Applicant(s) with a substantive post within the University of Sheffield.
Applicants who have “Open ended” contracts with the University are eligible to apply, however, they must either submit a letter of support from the University stating that their contract would continue for the duration of the Award, or provide details of the person who would lead the proposal in the event of a personnel change.
All Fellowship applications will need an agreed supervisor/mentor who is a permanent member of staff at the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield must be the host institution. All Awards are subject to Yorkshire Cancer Research Award Conditions and Policies for Awards.
Themes
- Cancer prevention and early diagnosis
The research within this theme will describe and analyse the characteristics of Yorkshire populations and patients, and the cancers experienced there, to help identify factors that contribute to poor outcomes. The vision is that gaining a better understanding of Yorkshire’s cancer patients, will help to develop targeted interventions and screening programmes to improve survival, primarily through earlier diagnosis.
- Digital health, big data, advanced diagnostic technologies: rethinking the delivery of care
Integrating modern technology and digital health with a re-envisaged cancer care delivery, the vision is that digital healthcare information, artificial intelligence and more intelligent use of novel diagnostics in clinical pathways will increase the volume and safety of community-based oncology treatments, thus saving NHS costs and improving patient experiences. Digital technology can also be used to inform risk profiles.
- Translational and precision cancer medicine
This theme will integrate genomic profiling with NHS cancer pathways to reveal insights into the role and opportunities of modern genomics and precision oncology in cancer care, offer pipelines of patients for the next generation of pharmaceutical studies and feed into discovery and molecular research in the University.
- Improving outcomes for cancer patients
The vision is to discover new treatments or better ways of giving current treatments, as well as develop new methodology for matching treatment to patients’ individual cancers. This theme encompasses discovery science – identifying new molecules and mechanisms; therapeutic innovation – developing novel treatments and combinations; and precision oncology – improving patient selection to optimise therapeutic response.
- Enhancing patient experience and voice
Our research will focus on improving quality of life by developing a holistic approach across the whole cancer experience. This will span risk and prevention to diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, palliative and supportive care as well as bereavement support. By supporting empirical research, including studies of digital data, we will address different experiences in terms of the access to, and the provision of, services for cancer prevention and care. Inclusivity is a key driver of this theme, with a vision that has patients and those important to them at the centre of what we do.
Awards available
Programme Awards
Encompass clinical or non-clinical Awards for an ambitious programme of research and can range from £1 million up to a maximum of £3 million.
Awards in this category are for a maximum of 5 years.
Project Awards
Encompass clinical or non-clinical projects. The suggested range for this Award is £100,000 up to £1 million.
The suggested duration for Awards in this category is 3 years.
Fellowship Awards
Cancer Research Transition (CRT) Fellowships – Suggested value up to £350,000 for 3 years, or equivalent part-time duration, for individuals looking to develop their research independence.
Cancer Research Advanced (CRA) Fellowships – Suggested value up to £1.25m for 5 years or equivalent part-time duration for individuals who do not yet have a salaried or independent position but are looking to establish their independence. Award holders are expected to be competitive for tenure on completion.
Cancer Research Doctoral (CRD) Fellowships – Suggested value up to £350,000 for 4 years or equivalent part-time duration for clinical professionals or existing University of Sheffield staff members to undertake a cancer-focused PhD.
Transformative Capital Investment (TCI) Awards
To fund ambitious research programmes that employ transformative technologies, instrumentation or infrastructure to help the University of Sheffield make step changes in the scope, quality and impact of its Cancer Research.
1. New research equipment or facilities, plus the staff needed to operate them.
2. Development of novel research instrumentation or capabilities. This will typically fall into 2 sub-classes:
(i) Retrospective upgrades to existing equipment or facilities
(ii) Development of novel instruments or facilities to extend the capabilities beyond those that currently exist in-house or are commercially available.
3. Refurbishment and upgrading of existing buildings to house research equipment and research staff working in accordance with the University of Sheffield Cancer Research Strategy.
Awards can be between £100K and £5M and up to a suggested duration of 5 years.
Doctoral Training Programme
To establish a Cancer Research Doctoral Training programme to transform cancer research at Sheffield and secure a pipeline of future cancer research leaders. Suggested value up to £3.5 million. Each PhD to be funded at 4 years over 3 consecutive years. To include 2 clinical and 2 non-clinical student cohort per year x 3 years (12 funded PhDs).
Detailed information on all of the above can be found in the Information for Applicants document.
Contact us
If you have any questions please contact research@ycr.org.uk or call our research team on 01423 613483.
Apply
Please note that we provide three different types of application form for applicants to the Sheffield Pioneers Fund.
You should have been advised about which application form to complete by the University of Sheffield. It is important that you complete the correct form for your proposal. If you are unsure, please contact cancer_research@sheffield.ac.uk.