Apply for funding

We provide funding for impactful research which addresses important questions in the field of blood cancer and which aligns with our overarching strategic aim to bring forward the day when no one dies either of blood cancer or the side effects of its treatments.

To help us reach our strategic aims we are committed to increasing the funding we have available for world quality research and maximising the support we provide for the vibrant community of exceptional blood cancer researchers working across the UK.

Traditionally as a charity we have invested heavily in research fellowships and careers and many of today’s Blood Cancer research leaders are former Blood Cancer UK fellows.

“The career path for clinical academics is perilous and is not always well supported by government and the university sector. Blood Cancer UK funded both a clinical training fellowship for me to do my PhD and a senior fellowship to fund my first UK faculty position on my return from working in the US. I am eternally grateful for that support without which I would not have been able to develop my career as a clinical academic."

Professor Adele Fielding, Professor of Haematology, Hull York Medical School and Honorary Consultant in Haematology, Hull University Teaching Hospitals

“Being awarded a Fellowship from Blood Cancer UK had an enormously positive impact on my career. It firmly established me as a recognised independent researcher at the University of Cambridge and strengthened my CV to the point that I was offered a tenured position at the University of Edinburgh. I will always be grateful to Blood Cancer UK for this important stepping stone in my career.”

Professor Katrin Ottersbach, Professor of Developmental Haematology, University of Edinburgh

At this time, our highest priority for fellowships is to ensure we are continuing to support the development of the most talented early career researchers who will go on to become the next generation of blood cancer research leaders. As part of this aim, we are excited to announce the launch of our new Early Career Advancement Fellowships.

Applications for the first round are now open and we are aiming to fund three fellowships this year. This scheme will then run annually.

An Early Career Advancement Fellowship is designed to enable the most talented early career blood cancer researchers, who have already obtained a PhD, and undertaken further research as a postdoc or equivalent, to transition towards independence as a researcher.

Fellowships will be awarded for up to three years full time or five years part time and will be for a maximum of £350,000.

We are aiming to fund three fellowships from this round. This scheme will then run annually.

Applicants should be proposing to undertake a novel research project that is in line with our overarching strategic aim of bringing forward the day when no one dies either of blood cancer or the side effects of its treatments.

The fellowship should also provide the research leadership, career development and training opportunities needed for the applicant to reach the next stage in their career.

Fellows are permitted to undertake discovery or translational research, small scale clinical studies or research projects associated with ongoing clinical trials as part of a fellowship. These Fellowships are not designed to directly support the design or delivery of clinical trials.

In this scheme, we encourage applications from:

• Outstanding early career researchers who are dedicated to pursuing a career in Blood Cancer research, and who are aiming to transition towards independence with the support of this fellowship.
• Candidates who have had up to a maximum of six years full time equivalent active research experience since gaining their PhD. Allowances will be made for career breaks, covid impacts and clinical activity
• Candidates from either non-clinical or clinical backgrounds. For clinical applicants candidates can remain clinically active for up to a maximum of 50% FTE. Salary requests can include the %FTE spent on the fellowship project, and we will ask you to include confirmation of clinical employment from the funder of the remainder of your salary.
• Candidates based at a UK university, hospital trust, or other recognised academic research institution in the UK who are able to sign up to Blood Cancer UK's Terms and Conditions. We are unable to fund fellows based in industry.

The fellowship candidate should be the lead applicant, but the application should include a named supervisor at the host institution who will be asked to provide a letter of support. The letter should outline how the institution and supervisor will support the fellow throughout the fellowship, including a commitment to the research project, resourcing, and fellows career development.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to read the guidance for applicants for this round in full before starting an application.

Applications open: Thursday 13th June 2024

Deadline for submission of applications: 3pm on Thursday September 19th 2024

Interviews: February 2025

Applicants notified of outcomes: March 2025

All applications must be submitted via the Blood Cancer UK Grant Tracker grants management system.

The application form will be live on this system early next week.

Please follow the instructions in the guidance document for this scheme which can be accessed from the link below, and the Guide to using Grant Tracker on our website when completing and submitting an application. The application can be stored and edited at any time prior to submission.

The application deadline is 3:00pm on the date advertised. No applications will be accepted after the deadline. Applicants must submit the application ahead of this deadline, leaving sufficient time for the required signatories to approve the application.

For any enquiries about completing the application form or submitting your application, please contact [email protected].

Each year, we run four core grant schemes across the spectrum of discovery, translational and clinical research, including fellowships to support early career researchers. An overview, including the upcoming dates for each round is given below.

To be notified when our next calls open, please contact the [email protected]

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 for applications 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 for applications 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 change in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or care for people affected by blood cancer.

Maximum grant: £1,000,000

Duration: 5 years

Next call for applications opens: Spring 2025 (Expressions of Interest)