The Academic Clinical Trials (ACT) 2026-2027 cycle is now open.
Since 2022, the Academic Clinical Trial grants fund investigator-initiated clinical trials (IITs) that address unmet medical needs in blood cancer, recognizing that academic research may address clinical benefit needs that sometimes diverge from commercial development pathways.
The goal of this clinical award is to address unmet medical needs by testing new treatments, exploring expanded uses for existing therapies, and optimizing innovative treatment approaches in patient care.
How to apply: If you’ve applied with us before, please sign in to your account using this link: Blood Cancer United Research Portal. If this is your first time applying, you can create a new account.
Application deadlines
| Phase | Date |
|---|---|
| Letter of intent phase deadline | September 29, 2026, 3:00 PM (ET) |
| Notification of full application invite | Late November |
| Full application phase deadline | January 8, 2027, 3:00 PM (ET) |
| Notification of awards | July 2027 |
| Award start date | October 1, 2027 |
Please find all Academic Clinical Trial program documents available for download:
- ACT Guidelines and Instructions (PDF)
- Policies and Procedures (PDF)
- ACT Funding Agreement (PDF)
Application Focus
The Blood Cancer United ACT initiative is an investigator-initiated clinical trial program designed to address unmet medical needs by testing new treatments, exploring expanded uses for existing therapies, and optimizing innovative treatment approaches in patient care. These awards will fund clinical trials, up to $1M USD over a period of up to three years.
Blood Cancer United will continue their partnership with Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research for co-funding of ACT grants.
The primary focus will be Phase 1 or 2 trials positioned to begin enrolling patients within 3-6 months of the October 1, 2027, award start. Trials should focus on one of the areas of potential interest.
Examples of projects of potential interest include:
- Precision medicines engaging new targets, given as monotherapy or in combination (e.g. small molecules, monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, ADCs, RNAs or novel modalities may be prioritized)
- Novel immunotherapy approaches that are relevant to blood cancers
- Therapies targeting the tumor microenvironment
- Biopharmaceutical approaches in premalignant conditions for the prevention or early intervention of disease
- Personalized medicine approaches for blood cancers, including novel companion diagnostics that may identify optimal treatment sub-populations
- Best-in-class trials that may impact standard of care
- Enhanced safety and/or efficacy of stem cell transplantation
We welcome proposals that include new clinical trial designs, decentralized trial approaches and emerging technologies including AI for improved clinical trial conduct in blood cancer.
Highlights of the LOI and application process
- A Structured Clinical Abstract at the LOI stage will provide succinct information about the objectives, expected outcomes, and clinical significance of the proposed study.
- A Patient Involvement Plan Summary is required at the LOI stage (2 pages and a table). A full plan is required at the Full Application phase. Patient engagement activities help assure that patients’ needs (both unmet medical needs and first-hand experiences) are reflected in the design of the clinical trial.
- Applicants will provide an IRB approval date OR a scheduled IRB review date at both the LOI stage and in the Full Application. Projects that can begin near or on the specified award start date of October 1, 2027 may be prioritized. An application may be submitted with IRB approval pending, and documented IRB approval must be submitted to Blood Cancer United within 6 months of the start of the award.
Award
- Budget submitted should reflect the actual needs of the project but cannot exceed $1M USD in total for up to three years of the grant.
- Annual budgets may not exceed $200,000 in year 1, and $400,000 in years 2 and 3.
- This budget ceiling includes all costs associated with the grant including indirect costs (often referred to as Institutional Overhead), which will be capped at 15% of the total award.
What types of projects are eligible for the ACT Program?
The ACT Program supports investigator-initiated Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials focused on blood cancers and related premalignant conditions. Trials should be positioned to begin patient enrollment within 3 to 6 months of the October 1, 2027 award start date. Discovery and translational research projects are not eligible for this program.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants of any nationality may apply. Principal Investigators must be independent investigators with experience conducting clinical trials and hold an MD or equivalent degree (other advanced degrees may be considered). Clinical fellows, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and instructors are not eligible.
Can I include a Co-PI?
Yes. Applications may include up to two Co-Principal Investigators. Co-PIs must be identified during the Letter of Intent (LOI) phase.
What is the maximum award amount?
Applicants may request up to $1,000,000 in total funding for a project period of up to three years. Indirect costs are limited to 15% of the total amount requested.
What are the key application deadlines?
- Letter of Intent Deadline: September 29, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET
- Full Application Deadline (by invitation only): January 8, 2027, at 3:00 PM ET
- Award Notification: July 2027
- Grant Start Date: October 1, 2027
How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted through the Blood Cancer United Research Portal at https://bloodcancerunited.fluxx.io. Applicants are encouraged to start early and submit well before the deadline.
What is required at the Letter of Intent stage?
The LOI includes completion of the online application form, a Previous Studies/Preliminary Data/Trial Summary template, and a Patient Involvement Plan (PIP) table. NIH Biosketch and Other Support documents are required for the PI and any Co-PIs.
Is a Patient Involvement Plan required?
A Patient Involvement Plan is a required component of all ACT applications and is reviewed as part of the scientific evaluation process. Applicants should describe how patients will be meaningfully engaged during trial design, conduct, and dissemination of results, and how patient needs have informed the proposed study. Applications without a Patient Involvement Plan are not eligible for review.
Can I include additional attachments or supporting documents?
No. Only the materials specifically requested in the guidelines should be submitted. Additional documents, such as manuscripts or full clinical trial protocols, may result in administrative disqualification.
Can I make changes after submitting my LOI?
Information submitted during the LOI phase automatically populates portions of the full application. Once an LOI has been submitted, changes require prior approval from Blood Cancer United. Requests should be submitted by email to [email protected] and may not be approved.
How are applications reviewed?
Applications are evaluated based on seven criteria: Significance, Rationale, Plan/Impact, Feasibility, Clarity, Health Equity, and Patient Involvement. Funding decisions are based on scientific merit, programmatic fit, and available funds.
What happens if I am invited to submit a full application?
Applicants whose LOIs are selected will receive an invitation to submit a full application through the Blood Cancer United Research Portal. The full application includes additional webform fields as well as a detailed project description package that must be uploaded as a single PDF in the required format and order outlined in the guidelines.
What if my IRB approval is still pending?
Applications may be submitted with pending IRB approval. If funded, documentation of IRB approval must be provided within six months of the award start date.
Who should I contact with questions?
For questions not addressed in the program guidelines, FAQ, or Research Portal, please contact [email protected]. Applicants are encouraged to review all application materials carefully and reach out well in advance of submission deadlines if assistance is needed.
See our active ACT grantee portfolio
Questions?
Refer to the program guidelines and instructions in the program section above or email [email protected].
Testimonials
Investigator-initiated clinical trials are the crown jewel accomplishment for a clinical researcher, translating research to benefit patients. The bottleneck to this process is often financial. Blood Cancer United's Academic Clinical Trial Program addresses this with a competitive grant that is equipped to actually pay the costs of these important studies. Without the ACT, our trial would not have had a path forward.
Dan Pollyea, MD
University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus
Academic Clinical Trials
Lower Dose Mitoxantrone for Venetoclax Resistant Acute Myeloid Leukemia
I was awarded a Blood Cancer United ACT grant to support a clinical
trial expanding to additional European centers, improving access to
this promising therapy. This support enables broader collaboration
and has the potential to improve outcomes for children with
relapsed/refractory disease across Europe. I am deeply grateful to
BCU for this support.
Francesca Del Bufalo, MD, PhD
Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù
Academic Clinical Trials
CD7-CAR T cells with PEBL for treatment of children/young adults with relapsed/refractory T-ALL