LifeArc Rare Disease Clinical Trials Programme
Supports clinical rare-disease teams with practical trial design and execution.
LifeArc is a UK-registered not-for-profit life science organisation (Charity No. 1015243) founded in 2000 as MRC Technology, which gained major endowment through the 2019 sale of rights to the cancer drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Its Rare Disease Clinical Trials Programme is a rolling grant facility open for applications year-round, with proposals reviewed on a continuous basis. The programme funds clinical-stage projects across any rare disease, with particular interest in rare neurodegenerative diseases, rare respiratory conditions, and childhood cancer. Individual applicants may request up to £5 million per proposal; no total fund envelope is published.
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit institutions — academic institutes, healthcare organisations, and public sector research establishments — as well as SMEs. Both UK-based and international organisations may apply. Projects must have reached clinical-stage development readiness, with GMP manufacturing capability already in place, established patient engagement plans, a strong scientific rationale, and a credible pathway to patient impact within five years. Large commercial enterprises are not referenced as eligible. The minimum TRL is approximately 6, reflecting the requirement for clinical-stage readiness rather than early preclinical work.
The application process begins with mandatory informal engagement: prospective applicants must contact LifeArc through the online form on the programme page to discuss their project before submitting a full application. LifeArc then invites selected applicants to submit full proposals. Organisations with advanced clinical programmes in rare neurodegenerative, respiratory, or childhood cancer indications should prioritise early engagement, as the rolling review model means there is no advantage to waiting for a scheduled deadline — strong proposals are reviewed as received.
Rolling grants of up to £5 million for clinical-stage rare disease trial projects, with particular encouragement for rare neurodegenerative diseases, rare respiratory conditions, and childhood cancer.
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