Black Leaders in Cancer Scholarship Programme
Fully funds a 4-year cancer research PhD for applicants who self-identify as Black heritage.
CRUK created this scheme after its own data showed fewer than one per cent of applications to its research funding came from Black, African, Caribbean or Black British researchers, against a two per cent baseline among UK bioscience academic staff, and separate sector data showing only half a percent of UK science, technology and engineering professors are Black. Beyond the funded PhD place itself…
This is a positive-action scholarship reserved for candidates of Black heritage, including mixed backgrounds, who want to start a non-clinical PhD in cancer research. On top of that heritage requirement, applicants still need to clear CRUK's usual PhD bar: a strong undergraduate degree, relevant research background, and the standard English-language requirement.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Grants for Biotech Startups: NIH, NSF, SBIR/STTR, and Non-Dilutive Funding
A practical guide to grants for biotech startups, including NIH SBIR/STTR, NSF, translational funding, evidence, regulatory readiness, and budgets.
Start hereTRL Levels Explained for Deeptech Founders
Learn what TRL levels mean, how to estimate technology readiness, and how TRL affects grants, EIC Accelerator, SBIR/STTR, funding stage, and application evidence.
Write proposalHow to Write a Grant Proposal Reviewers Can Score
Learn how to write a grant proposal around reviewer criteria, evidence, work packages, budget logic, and commercialization for deeptech and R&D funding.
More from CRUK
All grants from this funder →Therapeutic Catalyst
CRUK · United Kingdom
Supports global cancer teams through CRUK to validate novel therapeutic concepts toward patient solutions.
Biology to Prevention Award — B
🇬🇧CRUK · United Kingdom
Supports mechanistic prevention research in the United Kingdom with early career fellowships for practical development.
Clinical Research Funding Scheme — B
🇬🇧CRUK · United Kingdom
Supports United Kingdom clinical teams through CRUK grants that progress studies from pilot concepts to trials.
Discovery Programme Award — B outline)
🇬🇧CRUK · United Kingdom
Supports United Kingdom cancer science programmes with multi-stage funding for innovation in disease biology.
Drug Development Project
CRUK · United Kingdom
Sponsors and directly runs cancer drug development, in place of a cash grant.
Early Detection and Diagnosis Programme Award — B
🇬🇧CRUK · United Kingdom
Supports cancer detection and diagnosis innovation in the United Kingdom through transformational early development programmes.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
BHF Programme Grants
🇬🇧BHF · United Kingdom
Funds major cardiovascular research programmes through infrastructure-grade grants to strengthen real-world implementation.
Pre-Commercial Procurement for Cancer Care
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds €8–10M procurer consortia to bring affordable cancer technologies, devices and medicines from tender to patient benefit.
Cancer Mission: First-in-Human Trials for Rare Cancers
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds €7–9M projects taking biomarker-guided rare-cancer treatments into first-in-human, multicentre phase 1 trials.
UKRI International Science Partnerships Fund
🇬🇧UKRI · United Kingdom
Supports United Kingdom researchers connecting globally through partnerships in planet, health, technology, and talent priorities via UKRI International Science Partnerships Fund.
Young Cancer Survivors Quality of Life Network
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds one €3M coordination action that helps cancer charities and funders improve quality of life for young survivors across Europe.
Advancing innovation in accelerated cancer diagnosis
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Supporting clinical validation of early cancer diagnostic technologies