Discovery Grant Program

The Discovery Grant Program is administered by Blood Cancer United, a national voluntary health agency dedicated to advancing the understanding, treatment, and eventual cure of hematologic malignancies. The organization supports research, patient services, advocacy, and education, with a strong emphasis on funding innovative scientific work that can transform outcomes for individuals affected by blood cancers. This program represents a key component of its research portfolio, specifically targeting foundational scientific discovery and early-stage innovation. The purpose of the Discovery Grant Program is to support cutting-edge basic research, technological innovation, and informatics pipeline development that contribute to understanding blood cancer disease mechanisms. The program is designed to generate new knowledge that can improve detection and monitoring of disease progression and identify novel therapeutic targets. It is explicitly structured to encourage established investigators to pursue proof-of-concept studies that may lead to entirely new treatment approaches, rather than incremental or confirmatory research. Funding through this program is substantial, with awards structured over a three-year performance period. Applicants may request up to 250000 dollars per year, for a maximum total of 750000 dollars. This total includes all allowable costs, including indirect costs, which are capped at ten percent of the total award. Budgets must reflect actual project needs and include justification aligned with the proposed work plan. Certain restrictions apply, including limits on salary support for principal investigators and co-principal investigators, which generally cannot exceed forty percent of the total award unless exceptional justification is provided. Eligibility is limited to established investigators, defined as researchers with more than three years of experience in an independent faculty appointment at the time of submitting the letter of intent. Applicants without a demonstrated track record in blood cancer research must partner with a co-principal investigator who possesses significant expertise in hematology or blood cancer research. Additionally, individuals currently holding an active Discovery Grant Program award are not eligible to apply during the same cycle. The program is primarily aimed at academic researchers, particularly those affiliated with institutions of higher education. The application process consists of a multi-phase submission mechanism beginning with a mandatory letter of intent. Applicants must submit their materials through the Blood Cancer United Research Portal. Following submission of the letter of intent, selected applicants are invited to submit a full application. The process includes strict compliance requirements regarding formatting, submission order, and deadlines. Applications are evaluated based on scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and alignment with program goals, with administrative compliance also playing a critical role in eligibility for review. Key timeline milestones include a letter of intent deadline in mid August, followed by invitation notifications in early September. Full applications are due in early November, with award notifications expected in July of the following year. Funded projects are scheduled to begin in October of that same year. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle, with structured phases that guide applicants from initial concept submission through final funding decisions. The program excludes certain types of research, including clinical trials, projects that already have proof of concept for drug development, and studies that are not directly related to blood cancer biology. It also does not support research on normal hematopoiesis or projects that are primarily confirmatory. Applicants are encouraged to consult program guidelines and contact the organization directly via email or phone for clarification, ensuring that proposals align with the program’s strategic priorities and compliance requirements.

Ensure strict compliance with formatting rules submit early avoid incremental research focus on innovative blood cancer mechanisms