Medical and Life Sciences Translational Fund

MLSTF supports proof-of-concept projects at the early stages of translation that are of high risk but with potential of high reward. It funds researchers to accelerate the transition from discovery research to translational development projects by supporting preliminary work or feasibility studies to establish the viability of a translational approach.

This fund does not support exploratory basic science.

MLSTF is a consolidated fund comprising devolved funding from the MRC Impact Acceleration Account (MRC IAA), Wellcome Intellectual Property Revenue Retention Funds, and for this round also includes NIHR BRC Revenue Funds, and Strategic Innovation Funding with some additional aligned funding from Rosetrees. In 2026, the total budget will be in the region of £800-900K to ‘pump-prime’ the translation of novel therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, and other therapeutic interventions (including ‘repurposing of existing therapies’) toward clinical testing.

In addition, we are pleased to confirm facilitated co-funding opportunities with Cancer Research Horizons (CRUK), and the University Challenge Seed Fund (USCF; administered by OUI).

The 2026 round of MLSTF includes a dedicated Translating Biosciences Research strand. This strand will support early-stage, high-potential translational projects from the biosciences community, enabling the advancement of underpinning research towards practical application, commercialisation, follow-on funding, or wider adoption.

New and improved award scheme: Key Highlights

1. Maximum funding volume per project up to £85K. 
2. Translating Biosciences Research - a dedicated funding strand for biosciences research.
3. Opportunities for Early Career Researchers:
   a. “Emerging Translational Innovators (ETI)”: This is a dedicated route which provides an opportunity for early career researchers to use this fund as a stepping stone towards independently pursuing their translational research endeavours.
   b. “Researcher Co-Investigator”: A new option to apply under the mainstream MLSTF route which enables early career researchers to have their salary costed as a directly incurred expense.
4. Maximum number of applications permitted is one per applicant (as PI, or Co-I).

Further details are available in the website.

Innovation Co-funding Strands

Co-funding with Cancer Research Horizons Innovation Fund (CRHIF)

The TRO is pleased to announce the continuation of the Cancer Research Horizons Innovation Fund (CRHIF) funding stream within MLSTF 2026. Cancer Research Horizons, Cancer Research UK's drug discovery, development and commercialisation company, is expected to co-fund one project through a 50% contribution.

This funding strand is available only to projects arising from research previously funded by Cancer Research UK, Blood Cancer UK or Breast Cancer Now. The funding is intended to support key go/no-go experiments that generate data required to reach a significant translational inflection point and enable the next stage of technology development, validation or commercialisation.

To facilitate co-development with Cancer Research Horizons, eligible researchers should submit a non-confidential Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Translational Research Office by 5:00pm on Monday 20 July 2026.

This EOI should provide a summary of the proposed project, including a summary of supporting background data, objectives and proposed outcomes of the project and a justification for support. EOIs will be reviewed by Cancer Research Horizons and shortlisted applicants will be invited to work with Cancer Research Horizons to further develop their translational strategy and full MLSTF application ahead of the final submission deadline.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to access Cancer Research Horizons' Early Validation Fund, subject to endorsement by Cancer Research Horizons and subsequent award recommendation by the MLSTF Committee. Successful applicants will also be expected to work closely with Cancer Research Horizons to develop the intellectual property strategy and translational development pathway for the proposed technology.

NIHR BRC Revenue Funds

MLSTF 2026 also includes an NIHR funding stream which provides an opportunity for clinical academic researchers working within the Trust with honorary contracts with an Oxford University department to execute translational research with a direct focus on clinical translation and human specimen-based studies. Animal work is not permitted within these proposals. Applications that fall under this remit must select the NIHR research area option in the main case for support application form. It is anticipated that the NIHR BRC will be co-funding (50% contribution) up to two projects.

University Challenge Seed Fund

Applicants should also note that the University Challenge Seed Fund will open on Thursday 13 August 2026 and Oxford University Innovation (OUI) will accept applications based on a first-come-first-served basis. The call will close on Thursday 24 September 2026. OUI will stop reviewing applications sent after this date.

In this instance, two separate proposals must be submitted to each scheme (UCSF and MLSTF) and will be reviewed by their respective committee members. Researchers should engage with both the TRO and OUI to discuss potential match funding models. The lead contact from OUI for UCSF is Kirsten McCardle (kirsten.mccardle@innovation.ox.ac.uk).

Eligibility

Any researcher from the University holding a contract extending to at least the end of the proposed project may apply, assuming they have host departmental approval. Applicants should clarify their eligibility with departments, and departmental approvers are required to check eligibility of their applicants before advancing any applications. The Committee welcomes applications from Early Career Researchers and applicants seeking to establish individual research careers should they fit this criterion – such applicants are encouraged to select the ETI option and complete relevant sections within the case for support application form.

Researchers based in Oxford University’s overseas research programmes namely Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), and KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, and their sister sites are welcome to apply to MLSTF as Principal Investigators (PI) or Co-Investigators (Co-I). To be eligible to apply to MLSTF as a PI, researchers must meet any one of the following conditions:

• Hold an Oxford University employment contract
• Hold the status of Associate Research Fellow (ARF)

Deadlines

• Expression of interest (EOI) for CRUK Innovation co-funding strand: Monday 20 July
• MLSTF: Friday 25 September 
• University Challenge Seed Fund: Thursday 24 September