Open for applications
Application deadline: 1pm on 15th October 2025
Application deadline: 1pm on 15th October 2025
Meaningful and productive researcher collaborations are critical in enabling the transformational advances that are needed in pancreatic cancer research. We recognise that developing new, or fostering existing, collaborative relationships can be challenging without sufficient investment and support.
Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Collaboration Catalyst Awards will enable researchers to establish and/or develop collaborations and networks to explore a research challenge or question within the field of pancreatic cancer.
There will be three submission periods for these awards with the first opening in May, the second in the autumn and the third submission period will be early in 2026 so don’t worry if you don’t have your collaboration details together for the first submission period as you will have other opportunities to apply.
Eligible applicants include:
All applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to the Guidance for Applicants and FAQs before completing their application.
All potential applicants and their Host Institutions should ensure that they have also reviewed Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Terms and Conditions, which set out the standard terms applicable to the Collaboration Catalyst Awards funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK.
To apply, please submit your completed application form as one single pdf document containing all relevant appendices to research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk at least 5 weeks before your planned collaboration activity.
All applications for funding will be subject to a rigorous review process by a member of our international Scientific Advisory Board.
More details on the review process can be found in our guidance notes for applicants.
We recently awarded a Collaboration Catalyst Award to Dr Shalini Rao from the University of Cambridge. We spoke to Shalini to find out more about her research, how she plans to use her award, and how crucial collaboration is to her as an early career researcher.
We recently awarded a Collaboration Catalyst Award to Dr Kate Herbert from York St John University. We caught up with Kate to find out more about her research, what attracted her to this funding scheme, and how she plans to use her award.
If you have any questions or queries about the Collaboration Catalyst Awards application process, we are more than happy to help or advise you.
Research Team
To receive the latest updates on our research and funding rounds
Our research proposals are often reviewed by people with lived experience of pancreatic cancer. They give valuable insight and help to ensure that research is centred around the needs of patients.
Use our research project finder to browse a wider selection of our recently funded research.