PhD Research Scholarship Award 2026

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Background

The Irish Cancer Society is now accepting applications for our PhD Research Scholarship Award 2026. The purpose of this funding call is to offer excellent graduates the opportunity to conduct structured, comprehensive doctoral postgraduate training in cancer research.

Through an additional mobility element, this award also funds PhD researchers’ secondment to a national/international research institution (maximum 3 months).

This funding call is open to graduates with a background relevant to their proposed research project (e.g., translational, biomedical, clinical, nursing, psychology, dietetics, occupational therapy, radiology, genetic counselling, physiotherapy,
speech and language therapy).

The prospective PhD researcher must be associated with an approved host institution for the duration of the award. A specified list of HRB-approved host institutions located in the Republic of Ireland, can be found in the corresponding guidelines document.

There are two PhD Research Scholarship Awards available in 2026:

  • One Translational Biomedical or Clinical Research Award
  • One Survivorship Research Award

There are separate guidelines for each award. Please ensure you read the correct document and choose the right application form via the online application system. Please see the corresponding Application Guidelines and FAQs document
(Appendix 1) for further information (including eligibility) on this funding call.

Please Note: It is the responsibility of the student to identify two appropriate primary supervisors, and to develop their proposed research project with the nominated supervisory team prior to submission.

Project Eligibility

This award is intended to fund cancer research that aligns with the Irish Cancer Society Strategy and the emerging needs of people affected by cancer.

Applications must propose a cancer research project that aligns with Irish Cancer Society strategies, priorities, and one of the following research themes:

  1. Translational Biomedical Research
  2. Clinical Research
  3. Survivorship Research

Translational Biomedical or Clinical Research Award

  • Translational Biomedical Research can be defined as ‘bench to bedside’ or patient-focused biomedical research, the aim of which is to translate existing knowledge about cancer biology into techniques and tools that will accelerate progress towards patient treatment. Research in this area will build upon basic biological discoveries and improves their Translational Biomedical potential through pre-clinical studies. Much of the outputs of Translational Biomedical research naturally merge into Clinical research, the next area of focus. Please note, applications in drug design, SAR (structure–activity relationship) analysis, drug screening or basic biomedical research will not be considered at this time.
  • Clinical Research involves organised investigations in people to examine the benefits of new approaches to treatment and care. For example, looking to see if a new medicine can improve survival for a particular form of cancer. As well as funding these drug-based trials (so called IMP trials), the Irish Cancer Society is also interested in funding non-drug-based trials (non-IMP trials) in areas such as diagnostics, technology, radiotherapy, surgery, psycho-oncology, exercise, nutrition, and combinations of these.

Please Note: The funding amount for the ‘Translational Biomedical and Clinical’ stream is €185,000 (& additional €5,000 Mobility Element). The €185,000 is inclusive of €50,000 ring-fenced for lab consumables. Total award €190,000.

Survivorship Research Award

Survivorship Research seeks to improve the care and outcomes
experienced by people affected by cancer, through person-centred
research methods. Studies should yield person-centred data, and can include research such as prevention/screening incidence and behaviour; psycho-social or physical long-term effects of cancer and its treatment; quality and experience
of treatment and care (incl. palliative and end-of-life care); self-management and health behaviour; health literacy and information; genetic
risk and counselling; physical and practical needs of people living with cancer or those who care for them (e.g. financial, employment, accessibility).

Survivorship research does not include in-vitro or ex-vivo methods (i.e.
studying cancer cells or tumour tissue outside a living organism),
or in-vivo methods (i.e., studying cancer cells or tumour tissue within a living experimental model)

Please Note: The funding amount for the ‘Survivorship’ stream is €135,000 (& additional €5,000 Mobility Element). Total award €140,000.

Funding and Duration

In line with standard doctoral programme timelines, this award will cover 3 to 4 years at a full-time capacity or a maximum of 8 years at a part-time capacity. A detailed budget should be provided according to the proposed award timeline.

The proposed budget should adequately cover costs for Stipend, Fees, Running Costs (incl. lab consumables), Equipment, Training & Education, Travel & Dissemination, Public & Patient Partnership (PPI/PPP). Mobility element budgets are not required at this time.


Detailed budget guidelines are available in Appendix 2, a copy of which can be downloaded below. Please note the following budget stipulations specific to this call:

  • PhD stipend is funded at a set rate of €25,000 per year.
  • A set provision of €2,000 must be allocated to support Public & Patient Partnership (PPI/PPP) in the proposed research project
  • Costs for attending conferences must be included for each year in the Travel & Dissemination category. Costs for at least one research presentation must be included within the budget (e.g., poster printing)
  • Additional funding of €5,000 is ring-fenced for a mobility element. Mobility budget is not required at this time.

Timeline

Milestones:

  • 3pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026; Application Deadline
  • April/Early-May 2026: Review of Applications
  • May 2026: Shortlisted Applicants Invited to interview
  • Mid-June 2026: Interviews (Online)
  • Mid-June 2026: Announcement of Award
  • Tuesday, 1st September 2026: Earliest Grant Start Date

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.

Submission

Applications must be submitted through the Irish Cancer Society Gateway Grant Tracker online system, by registering at the following address: https://grants.cancer.ie

The deadline for submission is 3pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026.

Contact

Please read the Application Guidelines and FAQs document carefully. Most queries will be addressed within these detailed documents. For any additional queries, please contact the team at: grants@irishcancer.ie
 

Guidelines, FAQ, and documents

Documents to Download

Survivorship - PhD 2026 Application Guidelines
Survivorship - PhD 2026 Application Guidelines
Booklet
Translational Bio Clin - PhD 2026 Application Guidelines
Translational Bio Clin - PhD 2026 Application Guidelines
Booklet
Appendix 1 FAQs - PhD 2026
Appendix 1 FAQs - PhD 2026
Booklet
Appendix 2 Budget - PhD 2026
Appendix 2 Budget - PhD 2026
Booklet
Appendix 3 PPP in Research - PhD 2026
Appendix 3 PPP in Research - PhD 2026
Booklet
Appendix 4 Research Impact (RIF) - PhD 2026
Appendix 4 Research Impact (RIF) - PhD 2026
Booklet