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.

Blood Cancer UK’s Innovative Pilot Grant scheme for 2024-2025 is now open.

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

Pilot grants are awarded for up to £30,000 for a duration of up to 12 months.

We invite applications for innovative research projects which aim to develop pilot data in novel areas of research with the potential to impact the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, treatment or management of blood cancer.

Early career researchers in particular are encouraged to apply.

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

Pilot grants are not for:

• 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.
• research involving randomised trials of clinical treatments.

Applications open: Thursday 10th October 2024

Deadline for submission of applications: 3pm on Thursday 16th January 2025

Applicants notified of outcomes: March 2025

Applications should be made through Grant Tracker, Blood Cancer UK’s grant management system.

Guidance on 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