Strategic Research Centre funding

Career level:

Established independent researcher (clinical and non-clinical researchers)

Research area:

We welcome proposals that address our research goals, focused on the research priorities of people with CF..

Call deadlines:

• Preliminary submission: 5pm 11 May 2026
• Final submission: Full applications invited from Expressions of Interest should be submitted in September
• Committee review: February 2027
• Notification of Outcome: March 2027

Funding period:

Three years (up to four years is permitted)

Funding amount:

£700,000 - £800,00

Find out more:

We strongly encourage applicants to contact staff in the Research Awards team of Cystic Fibrosis Trust ahead of applying to this scheme: [email protected]

Strategic Research Centres (SRCs) are designed to be virtual groups of inter-disciplinary experts coming together to work on projects that are important to people with CF. An SRC application must have at least three but may include up to six related workstreams that share a well-defined theme and overall objective.

The synergy between the workstreams and their contribution to the overall objective must be clearly articulated. Any inter-dependencies must be highlighted with risks and mitigations described. We have a portfolio of very different SRCs, some of which are described below:

• MAGNIFY SRC
• Karen Menzies PTSuppress SRC
• MATRIARCH SRC
• Better treaments for M abscessus SRC

All areas of CF research. We welcome applications that address our research goals, focused on the research priorities of people with CF.

Funding support (£700,000 to £800,000) over a period of 3-4 years is provided for:

• Salaries for early career researchers and technical staff – minimum of three early career researchers across the SRC. PhD student fees are also covered by the SRC.
• Running expenses
• Travel expenses relevant to the project

Download the Strategic Research Centre guidelines to find out more.

We encourage collaborations with geographical and multi-disciplinary spread. International collaborations are welcome. The Principal Investigator (PI) and lead institution, however, must be based in the UK. We also encourage applications from those outside the field of CF. In these cases, the PI must be supported by a co-investigator who is a CF expert with a history of publications in CF.

If you applied for a SRC in the previous funding round and were unsuccessful you cannot reapply for this year’s funding round. New applications may be considered if differing significantly from any original proposal previously submitted. If you have previously applied for a SRC award and are looking to submit a completely new proposal. Please contact the Research Awards Team to discuss eligibility before applying.

PIs of existing SRCs are able to apply for a second SRC providing the following criteria are met:

• the existing or previous SRC has drawn to a close OR is in its final year;
• the new SRC is not simply an extension or continuation of the previous SRC;
• the PI addresses, in sufficient detail, the distinction between the previous award and the new proposal
• the PI includes an explanation of how the previous project met its objectives. The informative successes (or failures) of the previous SRC must be highlighted and used to shape the new proposal.

Download the Strategic Research Centre guidelines to find out more.

The 2026 call for applications is now CLOSED

• Expression of Interest (preliminary stage): Deadline 5pm 11 May 2026
• Announcement of results of phase 1: mid-July 2026
• Full proposal (stage 2) deadline: end-September 2026
• Decision: March 2027