Lifearc

LifeArc is a self-funded, not-for-profit medical research charity established in 2000 as MRC Technology and rebranded in 2019 after a transformative windfall from royalties on the cancer drug Keytruda. Its mission is to propel early-stage scientific discoveries into patient-ready diagnostics, treatments, and cures, targeting complex, high-risk areas overlooked by commercial funders, such as rare diseases and global health challenges. Guided by values of unmet patient need, collaborative partnerships, translational expertise, and human betterment, LifeArc uniquely blends in-house drug discovery, IP management, and commercialization capabilities with philanthropic investment to dismantle translational barriers.

It prioritizes rare diseases (e.g., respiratory, kidney, mitochondrial), motor neuron disease, chronic respiratory infections, childhood cancer, and antimicrobial resistance, funding translational research, early clinical trials, diagnostics development, proof-of-concept studies, infrastructure like biobanks and trial portals, and multi-centre consortia. Beneficiaries include patients with rare or urgent unmet needs and the UK biomedical ecosystem, often via co-funding with partners like Kidney Research UK or the MRC.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or academic institutions (NHS trusts, universities) leading UK-wide projects, preferring medium-to-large organizations with proven track records in collaborative networks; international elements are allowed in select global health calls but leadership must be UK-based. No support for small local groups or people/communities directly.

Grants range from £30,000 to £1,000,000 (up to £3m+ for multi-year initiatives), milestone-driven for specific projects—not core costs or general expenses. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; apply via themed, time-limited calls with EOI followed by full proposals, reviewed biannually (June/December) by expert panels. Monitor the website for deadlines like 5 November 2025 for PACE AMR. LifeArc stands out as a translational specialist and ecosystem connector, motivated purely by patient impact.