Policy relating to funding the Salaries of Senior Scientists

This policy sets out Cancer Research UK's approach to funding the salaries of senior scientists. A senior scientist is broadly defined as a principal investigator with an independent scientific career. A senior researcher is broadly defined as an individual who contributes significantly to the scientific direction of a programme on which they are funded but who is not the principal investigator.

The policy covers Cancer Research UK employees as well as senior scientists employed by a university or the NHS.

The policy does not apply to Cancer Research UK's core funded institutes (Beatson Institute for Cancer Research; Cambridge Research Institute; London Research Institute; Paterson Institute for Cancer Research; Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology).

The policy does not cover Cancer Research UK funded group leaders in the Gurdon Institute.

The policy does not apply to Cancer Research UK's active fellowship schemes.

The policy does not apply to strategic appointments agreed as part of a Cancer Research UK Centre award or Clinical Trials Unit, or specific cases relating to strategic priority areas for the Charity.

Cancer Research UK will not provide the salary of a principal investigator on a response mode programme grant.

Applicants for programme grant funding may request support for the salary of a senior researcher who works in their group. However, no more than one such post (1FTE) may be requested on a single programme application.

Cancer Research UK will consider providing the salary of a principal investigator (within 8 years from their doctoral degree, or equivalent qualification) on a response mode project grant. Funding for the salary of a principal investigator on a response mode project grant will only be for the lifetime of the grant and for no more than 3 years.

Where Cancer Research UK currently provides the salary of a principal investigator on a programme grant, the policy will be implemented at the time of quinquennial review at the latest. However, Cancer Research UK may explore implementing this policy before quinquennial review where this is possible.

The policy is effective from 1 January 2009. The policy will be reviewed annually and any changes will be approved by the Scientific Executive Board.

Cancer Research UK will keep this policy under review.

View a printable version of this policy:

• Policy Relating to Funding the Salaries of Senior Scientists (32KB)