The Discovery Grants Program (DGP) 2026-2027 cycle is now open
Blood Cancer United is proud to announce the DGP: a research award program designed to encourage basic research, technological innovation, and informatics pipeline development that can lead to an understanding of blood cancer disease mechanisms, the development of improved methods for detecting and monitoring cancer progression, and the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
This is a dedicated mechanism to encourage established investigators to explore the biology of blood cancer and support proof-of-concept studies that could initiate completely novel approaches to treatment.
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 | August 12, 2026, 3:00 PM (ET) |
| Notification of full application invite | Early September |
| Full application phase deadline | November 3, 2026, 3:00 PM (ET) |
| Notification of awards | July 2027 |
| Award start date | October 1, 2027 |
Please find all Discovery program documents available for download:
- DGP Guidelines and Instructions (PDF)
- Policies and Procedures (PDF)
- DGP Funding Agreement Template (PDF)
Requirements
- If you currently hold a Discovery Grant Program (DGP) award, you may not apply to DGP in this cycle.
- The applicant (PI) must be an established investigator, defined as a researcher with more than 3 years in an independent faculty appointment at the time of submitting the Letter of Intent
- If the applicant has scientific achievements and significant expertise in another scientific area and no track record in blood cancer research, they must have a Co-Principal Investigator who has the required significant track record in hematology and/or blood cancer research
Examples of projects of potential interest
- cellular activities that underlie the behavior and vulnerabilities of blood cancer cells including phenomena or processes such as clonal evolution, autophagy, unique metabolic vulnerabilities, inflammation/inflammasomes, DNA damage responses, organellar changes, and poorly understood cellular regulatory mechanisms
- resistance mechanisms including immune evasion, resistant clone evolution and cellular changes underlying development of resistance to chemotherapies
- novel biomarkers or techniques to detect and monitor blood cancer development and progression
- discovery of neoantigens, including those that may reside outside of coding regions
- blood cancer cell interactions with the microenvironment and with the immune system, including exploration of novel immune synapses
This program is not meant to support
- clinical trials or correlative studies associated with clinical trials
- development of a drug or treatment that already has shown proof of concept
- research that is primarily confirmatory or minimally incremental
- research into cellular behavior, mechanisms or development not in the context of blood cancer
- studies of normal hematopoiesis
Award
- Budget submitted should reflect the actual needs of the project but cannot exceed $250,000 USD per year / $750,000 USD total for the three (3) 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 10% of the total award.
What types of research does DGP fund?
DGP funds foundational, discovery-stage research, also known as basic research.
What research topics are NOT supported?
- Clinical trials
- Confirmatory or incremental studies
- Drug development with existing proof of concept
- Research outside the context of blood cancer
- Normal hematopoiesis
Eligibility
Eligible applicants:
- Are established, independent investigators with more than 3 years in a tenure track faculty role,
- affiliated with a non-profit institution, and
- hold a PhD, MD, DVM, or equivalent degree
Are international applicants eligible?
Yes—both U.S. and non-U.S. applicants, including those working outside the U.S., may apply.
Can current DGP awardees apply?
No. Current DGP awardees are not eligible to apply in the same program cycle.
Can I submit more than one application?
No. PIs may submit only one DGP application per cycle.
Can I apply to multiple Blood Cancer United programs?
Yes, as long as the proposed aims do not substantially overlap.
Key Personnel
Is a Co-PI required?
A Co-PI is optional unless the PI lacks demonstrated expertise in blood cancer research. In that case, a qualified Co-PI is required.
How many Co-PIs are allowed?
Only one Co-PI is permitted.
Can I include collaborators?
Yes. For details on collaborators, please check the most recent version of the Guidelines and Instructions available for download on the DGP web page.
Can collaborators participate in multiple applications?
Yes, provided the research aims differ.
Funding & Budget
What is the funding amount?
Up to $250,000 USD per year / $750,000 USD total for the three (3) years
Are indirect costs allowed?
Yes—indirect costs are capped at 10% of the total award.
Are there limits on salary support?
Yes—PI and Co-PI salaries (including fringe) are capped at 40% of the total award.
Are there limits on other expenses?
Yes:
- Equipment: up to $25,000 annually
- Travel: up to $3,000 annually
Application Process
How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted through the Blood Cancer United Research Portal (Fluxx).
What are the application stages?
- Letter of Intent (LOI)
- Full Application (by invitation only)
What happens after I submit an LOI?
You will be notified whether you are invited to submit a full application.
Can I edit my application after submission?
No—applications cannot be modified after submission unless approval is granted prior to the deadline.
Application Requirements
What are common reasons for disqualification?
- Application submitted after the deadline
- Formatting requirements are not followed (e.g., font, margins)
- Required documents are missing
- Aims substantially overlap with another application
What formatting rules must I follow?
- Arial, 11-point font
- Preset margins and spacing must not be changed
- Character limits (including spaces) must be strictly followed
Can I include additional documents?
No—only documents specifically requested may be included.
Review Process
How are applications reviewed?
- LOIs are screened for eligibility and relevance
- Full applications undergo peer review by external experts
What criteria are used in review?
Applications are evaluated on:
- Scientific significance and innovation
- Feasibility
- Investigator experience
- Potential for clinical impact
- Budgetary considerations
Will I receive reviewer feedback?
Feedback is limited and may only be provided for applications discussed by the full review committee.
After Submission
How will I know my application was received?
You will receive a confirmation email within two business days.
Can I check my application status?
Yes—status updates are available in the Research Portal.
Can I contact staff about review status?
No—funding decisions are communicated via email only.
Support & Contact
Please carefully read the Guidelines & Instructions document available for download.
Please contact [email protected] with further questions.
See our active DGP grantee portfolio
Questions?
Refer to the program guidelines and instructions in the program section above or email [email protected].
Testimonials
The DGP Program has been pivotal to providing new approaches for blood cancer research. The award has enabled us to develop and apply cutting-edge computational, single-cell, and molecular approaches to AML, accelerating discoveries not otherwise feasible. This support has also allowed us to develop a critical resource for the field, strengthened collaborations, and positioned our studies to improve outcomes for leukemia patients.
Craig Jordan, PhD
University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus
Discoveries Grant Program
Modeling LSC heterogeneity at unprecedented resolution in AML
Blood Cancer United’s Discovery Grant Program provided critical
support that enabled our team to uncover how inherited genetic
variation can protect individuals from acquiring clonal
hematopoiesis and blood cancers by modulating expression of the MSI2
gene. This work has provided key insights into blood cancer risk and
nominated a potential path toward future strategies for blood cancer
prevention.
Vijay Sankaran, MD, PhD
Boston Children's Hospital
Discoveries Grant Program