Accelerating Treatments for Rare Diseases 

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Scholar Award advances promising discoveries from academic labs to move them into clinical practice. The award combines funding and expert therapeutics development support to help researchers in the UK, US, or Canada to accelerate preclinical projects towards treatments for patients.

Awardees have access to the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre Therapeutics Accelerator, which receives support from a partnership between University of Oxford, Oxford Science Enterprises, and University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio.

Successful applicants will receive: 

• £100K (UK) or USD$100K (US and CA) guaranteed grant award.
• One year of drug and business development support, with potential to renew for a second year based on milestones met.
• Access to Oxford facilities and infrastructure, including oligonucleotide synthesis and screening, small molecule and protein platforms, cell and gene therapy facilities, as well as genomics capabilities and links to Genomics England.
• Opportunity to qualify for acceleration funds up to £250K (UK) or USD$300K (US and CA) and investment funds according to project requirements.

​​​Eligibility:

MD or PhD researchers at accredited academic medical centres, research institutions and universities in the UK, US, and Canada. Note: IP rights are retained by the awardee and their institution.

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