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Purpose: To commission a Coordinating Centre and Clinical Director to lead and coordinate the UK-wide Type 1 Diabetes Cell Therapy Clinical Trials Network.
Amount: Up to £2 million
Duration: 3 years
Career Stage: Independent group leader with a track record of clinical and academic expertise in T1D and cell therapies, and an understanding of UK research and delivery infrastructure.
Location: Lead Applicants must be based at an academic Host Institution in the UK.
Process: Single stage process 1) Full application form and finance form – Assessed by presentation and panel interview.
How to Apply: Applications should be submitted through the online grant portal. All applicants should notify the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge (T1DGC) Research Funding Team (smfgrandchallenge@diabetes.org.uk) of their intent to apply for this competition as soon as possible.
Application Deadline: 27 October 2026 at 5pm.
The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge (T1DGC) is a groundbreaking partnership between Diabetes UK, Breakthrough T1D UK and the Steve Morgan Foundation with an ambition to progress towards new treatments and cures for type 1 diabetes. As part of this programme, Diabetes UK, in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is now inviting applications to establish and lead the UK Type 1 Diabetes Cell Therapy Clinical Trials Network (CTN).
The CTN will create a nationally coordinated and internationally connected platform to accelerate the development and delivery of type 1 diabetes beta cell therapy trials, strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in this rapidly advancing field and increasing opportunities for people living with type 1 diabetes to take part in innovative clinical trials.
Up to £2 million over three years is available to fund a CTN Coordinating Centre (CTN-CC) and appoint a Clinical Director who will provide national scientific and clinical leadership for the network.
The CTN will provide a dedicated national focus for type 1 diabetes beta cell therapies, serving as the UK’s expert network for beta cell therapy trials. Bringing together specialist expertise in beta cell replacement therapies, immunomodulation, advanced therapy delivery and engagement with the UK T1D community, the network will support sponsors through every stage of the trial pathway. Working alongside existing NIHR infrastructure, the CTN will provide coordinated access to nationally aligned expertise, supporting feasibility assessment, protocol development, site selection, trial delivery, involvement of the UK T1D community, and UK-wide capability building.
This is an infrastructure award, not a research grant. Applications should focus on developing and operating the CTN Coordinating Centre, establishing the network’s delivery architecture, accrediting and supporting CTN delivery sites, and building long-term UK capability for complex T1D cell therapy studies.
To lead the CTN in the position of Clinical Director, we are seeking applicants with:
Applicants must contact the T1DGC Research Funding Team as early as possible to discuss eligibility and notify their intention to apply. All eligibility discussions should take place before 13 October 2026.
Download the full funding specification and applicant guidance below for detailed information on the award, eligibility, assessment criteria and application process.
