Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT)

The Academic Clinical Trials (ACT) Program is now closed.

Thank you for your submissions.

Blood Cancer United recognizes the scientific and clinical merit of research developed and conducted by independent investigators affiliated with academic institutions. Such investigator-initiated trials (IITs) play an important role in developing experimental agents to address unmet medical needs, expanding the use of approved therapeutics, and improving the use of novel treatment regimens in real-world clinical settings. To support this important aspect of research, Blood Cancer United created the Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT) in 2022-23, and now presents a fourth request for applications.

The Blood Cancer United ACT initiative is a clinical trial award program designed to develop cutting edge treatments that will have meaningful impact for blood cancer patients. These awards will fund clinical trials, up to $1M USD over a period of up to three years.

The primary focus will be Phase 1 or 2 trials with novel experimental agents. Repurposing of approved therapies into novel indications will also be considered. Investigators conducting existing trials, indication expansion trials, or additions of new cohorts are welcome to apply. Investigation of corporate-owned assets is allowed. If a corporate asset is studied, the asset should be in ongoing, active development. Proposals may include correlative studies that accompany the proposed trial or trial expansion. 

Please find all ACT program documents available for download:

ACT Funding Agreement Template – FY25 (PDF)

Winter 2025 ACT Guidelines and Instructions (PDF)

Examples of projects of potential interest include:

• Novel immunotherapy approaches (cell therapies, biologics, small molecules) relevant to blood cancers
• Therapies targeting the tumor microenvironment
• Treatment approaches in premalignant conditions for the prevention or early intervention of disease 
• Personalized medicine approaches for blood cancers, including novel companion diagnostics that may stratify patient responses to therapy
• Enhanced safety and/or efficacy of stem cell transplantation
• Precision medicines with small molecules to new targets as monotherapy or in combination 

In this round, Blood Cancer United has formed a partnership with Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research for co-funding of ACT grants

Investigations conducting clinical trials in all hematologic malignancies and related pre-malignant conditions are welcome to apply. 

For this ACT application cycle, Blood Cancer United has an interest in receiving proposals for clinical trials testing novel therapeutic approaches for treating: 

1. T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL)
   Blood Cancer United invites proposals for clinical trials that address unmet medical needs in T-ALL. Areas of potential interest include: Immunotherapies that kill tumor cells while sparing normal T-cells, precision medicine approaches to control T-ALL, and advances in HSCT that reduce graft vs. host disease and enhance graft vs. leukemia activity, Blood Cancer United welcomes all innovative approaches with the potential for high impact in T-ALL.
2. Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia (pAML)
   Blood Cancer United invites proposals for clinical trials that address unmet medical needs in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (pAML). Applications that target novel drivers in pAML are of high interest. Blood Cancer United welcomes all innovative approaches with the potential for high impact pAML. 

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 Clinical Protocol Synopsis is required in the Appendix of the Full Application.  
• 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. An application may be submitted with IRB approval pending, but an award will not be made without documented IRB approval. Projects that can begin near or on the specified Award Start Date of July 1, 2025 may be prioritized.

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.
• 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.

How to apply

• Please refer to the Guidelines and Instructions document above
• Is this your first time applying for an Blood Cancer United Research grant? You can get started by requesting a new account in the Blood Cancer United Research Portal (FLUXX).
• See the table below for all the key dates and deadlines: