How we fund research

We are members of the Association of Medical Research Charities and fund research in line with their six principles of expert review in research funding: proportionality, independence, diversity, rotation, impartiality and transparency

Applications to our funding schemes are usually reviewed by independent medical and scientific expert (peer) reviewers, people affected by blood cancer (patients) and members of our funding or review committees.

Firstly, peer and patient reviewers are asked to provide detailed comments and score the application based on thorough review criteria specific to the individual funding scheme being assessed.

Applicants are then given the opportunity to respond to the reviewers' comments before their application is considered by members of the funding committee responsible for the assessment of applications to that scheme.

At the relevant funding committee meeting, committee members and people affected by blood cancer discuss, review and score the applications based on scheme specific criteria. Applications are ranked by the average score they receive from those present, and the set of applications that rank most highly and are within the available budget for the round are shared with our Board of Trustees for final approval.

Our funding committee members join us on a voluntary basis and are experts in disciplines relevant to our mission. The committees consider different categories of application:

• Our Research Funding Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending research for funding for a portfolio of awards across the full research pipeline and covering the breadth of blood cancer research. Their core remit includes responsibility for our Project Grants and Innovative Pilot Grants. The membership includes both research scientists and clinicians.
• Our Clinical Trials Review Committee is responsible for providing scientific validation and quality assurance for Blood Cancer UK through funding, progress review, and management of a portfolio of clinical research awards where clinical research makes up the largest component of the research planned, or any infrastructure awards that support clinical research in line with Blood Cancer UK’s research strategy. Their core remit includes responsibility for our Transformational Research Awards and other clinical schemes. The committee members are experts in late stage translational and clinical research and trial design and delivery across a spectrum of conditions and treatment modalities. At least 20% of the membership of the Committee have expertise in clinical study statistics and methodologies.
• Our Fellowships Committee is responsible for funding recommendations, review and management of Blood Cancer UK’s fellowships and career support activities. Their core remit includes responsibility for our Early Career Advancement Fellowships. The membership includes both research scientists and clinicians.

Where we require specific expertise, members of one committee can be co-opted to another committee for the assessment of a specific scheme.

Recommendations for all awards made by our funding committees are sent to our Board of Trustees for consideration. They then make the final decision on which applications we will fund. Notification of the outcome of applications will be made after consideration by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees’ decision is final and non-negotiable.

The Blood Cancer UK Research Team will provide feedback on all applications and will include the committee’s evaluation. To ensure fairness and to protect the integrity of the funding process, committee members cannot discuss any decisions with applicants and therefore members should not be approached.

Blood Cancer UK seeks to identify and minimise actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest when individuals are providing expertise and advice to the charity that influences or could be seen to influence application review, funding decisions and post award monitoring.

We screen all external peer and patient reviewers and committee members for any potential conflict of interest before we send an application to them. We also ask these reviewers and members to declare any conflicts of interest they may have with the application or applicant/s which we might not know about.

Download our conflict of interests in funding decisions policy below to find out more.