Our VIVO Biobank Pilot Grants are research grants designed to enable short-term funding for a specific, discrete, childhood cancer research project. This grant is for you if you are an early career researcher with an idea for a pilot biological study which will generate preliminary data for a further, larger research project or will generate useful, publishable data.
Grants of up to £15,000 are available to support a defined research project. Grants are available for specific disease areas, where there is both funding, and samples available from the VIVO Biobank to support a study. Funding is available for discrete projects and not as ‘top up’ funding for existing projects, although funding can be used to support additional specific experiments as part of a wider piece of work (e.g. a PhD study).
Applicants should be supported in their application by a suitable supervisor, who will support their application and the research project.
Proposed projects should have a clear output, i.e. a publication in a peer reviewed journal, be achievable within the project budget, and take 12 months or fewer to complete.
Proposed projects should address one of the Top 10 Research Priorities for Childhood Cancer published by the Children’s Cancer Priority Setting Partnership (please note these priorities are broad themes rather than specific research questions, giving plenty of scope for a wide range of research ideas). Further information can be found in the guidance for applicants for this grant scheme.
The funding from these grants can support costs associated with carrying out the research project (e.g. experimental costs, consumables costs). Applications should be submitted through the CCLG application portal.
The deadline for applications is 5pm, Tuesday 1 July 2025.
Please ensure you read the 'guidance for applicants' (below) fully before making an application to this scheme. You must also contact the VIVO Biobank on enquiries@vivobiobank.org prior to starting your application to ensure that the samples you require for your study are available. Please ensure you make contact with the VIVO Biobank in plenty of time to allow for a response in order to proceed with your application.
All other enquiries about this grant scheme should be directed to research@cclg.org.uk.