Apply for funding

We provide funding for impactful research projects that address important questions in the field of blood cancer and which align with our overarching strategic aims and priorities.

Each year, we run four grant schemes across the spectrum of discovery, translational and clinical research including fellowships to support early career researchers. An overview of our funding schemes is given below.

We are excited to launch this new clinical trial funding scheme through which we will support large-scale clinical trials that have significant potential to improve the survival for those affected by the hardest to treat blood cancers.

This scheme is open to applications for innovative, large-scale clinical trials testing multiple interventions that are adaptable in design (for example, multi-arm, multi-stage trials).

Applications must focus on the testing and development of at least one of the following:

• Novel treatments or treatment combinations;
• Improvements in treatment sequencing/scheduling;
• More personalised treatment approaches, for instance through use of/development of predictive or prognostic biomarkers.

All applications must also:

• Be inclusive by design and have an inclusive recruitment strategy in place to ensure patients recruited are representative of the disease group/subgroups under investigation.
• Have a clearly defined pathway to impact, aiming to achieve paradigm-shifting changes to current clinical practice or disease management for people living with the least survivable blood cancers.

Studies must be focused on patients with blood cancer who, with current clinical management, have a predicted 5-year survival of less than 50% at the point of diagnosis.

Grants will typically range from £4m to £8m, for up to seven years. The maximum that can be requested is £8m.

Applications for smaller-scale clinical trials in any type of blood cancer or precursor condition should be submitted to our annual Transformational Research Awards scheme.

We will be holding a webinar on 2nd April to provide more information about the scheme and answer any questions. Sign up here.

This will be followed by a workshop on 20th May where there will be an opportunity to hear from those with complex trial design and delivery experience, as well as take part in breakout sessions on topics such as PPI. We would expect lead applicants or senior research team representatives from all groups planning to apply to attend this workshop. Sign up here.

This will be a two-stage scheme. To apply:

1. Submit an ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) form below via email to the Research Team: by 26th June 2025
2. If your EOI is approved, your full application must be submitted on Grant Tracker: by 3pm, 1st October 2025
3. Notification of Interview: November 2025
4. Interviews will be held: February 2026
5. Outcomes will be communicated: ~ March 2026

Please refer closely to the guidelines during the development of your application.

Blood Cancer UK’s Transformational Research Awards scheme for 2025 is now open for Expressions of Interest (EOI).

Through this scheme, the charity intends to support ambitious, high-quality research that aims to make substantial progress towards a transformational change for people with any type of blood cancer or a precursor condition, from any age group (including children and young people).

Grants will typically be awarded for up to five years and for a maximum of £1,000,000.

This scheme is designed to support:

• Advanced/late-stage pre-clinical research.
• Clinical and experimental medicine (including clinical studies or trials).
• Research to accelerate the uptake of new treatments and other interventions into the NHS.

Applications for smaller-scale discovery science, translational, or clinical projects should be submitted to the charity’s annual Project Grants scheme.

Applications for innovative, large-scale clinical trials testing multiple interventions that are adaptable in design should be submitted to Blood Cancer UK’s new large-scale clinical trial funding scheme.

All applicants for the charity’s Transformational Research Awards scheme, including those applying for funding for advanced/late-stage pre-clinical research, must clearly outline the specific transformational change they are aiming to make progress towards through their proposed research and how this change could be transformational for the blood cancer/precursor population/s of interest.

All applicants must also clearly describe how the proposed research will accelerate progress towards the desired change for people with or at risk of developing blood cancer, including:

• the progress towards the identified transformational change for people with or at risk of blood cancer that will be made during the research itself.
• the immediate next steps that would be required (e.g., a phase I clinical trial).
• the overall pathway to clinical uptake into the NHS or wider UK health system and to real-world impact for patients.

Blood Cancer UK expects meaningful Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) to be embedded in all research funded through this scheme. The proposed research should also be inclusive by design and have an inclusive recruitment strategy in place to ensure people are recruited who are representative of the disease group/subgroups under investigation.

Call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) opens: February 2025

Deadline for EOI submissions: 3pm on Thursday 3rd April 2025

Applicants notified of EOI outcomes: June 2025

Deadline for submission of invited full applications: September 2025

Two-week period opens for full-stage applicants to respond to peer and patient reviews: w/c 27th October 2025

Applicants notified of outcomes: January 2026

EOIs should be made through our online grant management system Grant Tracker. No EOIs will be accepted after the deadline. Guidance for using Grant Tracker is available on our website.

Blood Cancer UK’s Project Grant scheme for 2025 is now open.

For this open, response-mode project grant scheme, we invite all research proposals addressing novel research questions in blood cancer that could help to move us closer to reaching our strategic goal of a world where no one dies as a result of blood cancer or its treatments.

Project grants are awarded for up to £300,000, for up to 36 months.

Project grants provide support for clearly defined research proposals that aim to address key questions in the field of blood cancers in line with our strategic aims.

Applicants should clearly outline the potential impact for people affected by blood cancer.

Project grants are not designed to support:

• Supplementing or making up shortfalls in funding for ongoing research and staff funded by other awards.
• Bridging support between grants.
• Biobank funding or other infrastructure costs.
• Clinical trials.

Applications open:  Wednesday 30th October 2024

Deadline for submission of applications: 3pm on Thursday 6th March 2025

Applicants notified of outcomes: July 2025

Applications should be made through our online Grant Management System Grant Tracker. Guidance on using Grant Tracker is available on our website.

All our schemes run annually. To be notified when our calls open, please contact the Research Team.

Project Grants

Project Grants support world class research proposals that aim to address vital questions in the field of blood cancer in line with our strategic aims and the priorities of people affected by blood cancer.

Maximum grant: £300,000

Duration: 3 years

Next call opens: October 2024

Innovative Pilot Grants

Innovative Pilot Grants support researchers with novel research ideas to develop the pilot data needed to secure further investment from our larger grant schemes, other medical research funders or from industry. This scheme allows us to fund innovative research ideas that could lead to the next big breakthroughs in blood cancer research.

Maximum grant: £30,000

Duration: 12 months

Next call opens: October 2024

Transformational Research Awards

Transformational Research Awards support advanced pre-clinical translational research, clinical studies or trials to develop and test new treatments, diagnostics or other technologies, or for the establishment of the evidence required for the uptake of improved treatments or technologies into the NHS. Research funded through this scheme should aim to accelerate progress towards a transformational step change in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or care for people affected by blood cancer.

Maximum grant: £1,000,000

Duration: 5 years

Next call opens: Spring 2025 (Expressions of Interest)

Early Career Fellowships

These clinical and non-clinical fellowships aim to help the most talented early career blood cancer researchers to make the next steps in their careers enabling their transition to independence. The scheme will increase the capacity in blood cancer research and support the development of the next generation of blood cancer research leaders.

Maximum grant: £350,000

Duration: 3 years

Next call opens: June 2025