Irish Cancer Society Cancer Clinical Study Seed Award 2026

The Irish Cancer Society would like to invite applicants to apply for the Clinical Study Seed Award 2026: Funding for Non-Regulated Interventional Clinical Studies. 

While significant progress has been made in supporting clinical research, important gaps remain in the development of investigator-led non-regulated interventional studies. Many promising interventions including but not limited to surgical, radiotherapy, diagnostic, behavioural, supportive care, rehabilitation, and healthcare delivery interventions lack dedicated resources to support their development and evaluation despite their potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and health service delivery. 

In line with this, the Irish Cancer Society have developed the Clinical Study Seed Award 2026: Funding for Non-Regulated Interventional Clinical Studies ‘The Clinical Study Seed Award’ to address this gap. Aligned with the ambitions of the National Cancer Strategy and Ireland's broader clinical research ecosystem, the award seeks to strengthen the pipeline of investigator-led non-regulated interventional studies and support the generation of evidence that can improve patient care and healthcare delivery nationally.

The ideal candidate should:

• Be registered with a relevant, professional body e.g. Irish Medical Council, Irish Nurses & Midwifery Organisation, CORU, etc.
• Have a promising track record in clinical cancer research exemplified by publications or other relevant research outputs, national/international research partnerships etc. (see note)
• Currently be resident and hold an appointment in a hospital, healthcare organisation or any research institution in the Republic of Ireland
• Demonstrate a high level of support from the host institution, training body (where relevant) and peers for the duration of the award 
• Be a member of Cancer Trials Ireland. Please note, any applicants who have not yet received membership can apply here, and successful applicants will only require proof of membership prior to the start date of the funding
• Be affiliated through their clinical facility with a higher education institution in the Republic of Ireland that is one of the HRB’s approved host institutions. The Society will also accept Cancer Trials Ireland as an approved host institution.

Please note: The Irish Cancer Society assesses the quality and impact of scientific research through means other than journal impact factors alone. The Society recognises the value of all research outputs not only research publications e.g. datasets, patents, community outreach, patient involvement, pre-prints, contributions to consortia etc.

The Irish Cancer Society are specifically seeking applications for interventional clinical studies in the non-regulated area, including supportive care interventions, radiotherapy studies, surgical trials, survivorship interventions, diagnostics, screening, digital health and technology.  

Please note: Interventions are defined as a study in which participants are prospectively assigned by the study protocol to receive a specific intervention, or different interventions, to evaluate effects on health outcomes.

Activities supported may include:

• protocol and study design development
• patient information leaflet and GP letter development
• patient and public involvement (PPI) activities
• feasibility and pilot work
• statistical and methodological support
• health economics input
• ethics applications
• development of recruitment and retention strategies
• establishment of multicentre collaborations
• stakeholder and patient engagement activities
• development of study-specific governance, regulatory, database development and data management plans
• activities that enhance trial readiness and support future patient accrual

The Award will not support:

• investigational medicinal product and medical device/ in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IMP/CTIMP/MDR/IVDR) studies
• basic or translational laboratory research
• retrospective studies, audits or service evaluations
• registry-only studies without an interventional component
• routine clinical care costs not directly related to trial development

Applications must be completed and submitted through the Irish Cancer Society’s new online grant management system. To submit an online application, you are required to register at the following address: https://irishcancersociety.optimytool.com/en.

Milestones:

• Wednesday, 29th July 2026; Grant Call Opens
• Wednesday, 23rd September at 3pm; Application Deadline
• October 2026; Review of Applications
• November 2026; Awardees Selected
• January 2027; Earliest Grant Start

Please Note: the above dates are provisional and subject to change at the discretion of the Irish Cancer Society. Shortlisted applicants must be available to attend an interview (online) to be considered for this award. 

For any questions about this call, please email grants@irishcancer.ie .