This program is now closed.
The IMPACT program is one of our newest programs in the Research portfolio. It is intended to expand access to high-quality clinical trials to patients by bringing the trials to the patients at their local community oncology centers.
See the active IMPACT portfolio.
The overall goal is to expand clinical trial access to patients by having clinical trial participation occur mainly at local community oncology centers. These clinical trials will be hosted by the major cancer center (IMPACT hub) who will partner with community-based oncologists to facilitate recruitment and participation of patients at community oncology centers. The trials should be high-quality, interventional, and can target any hematological malignancy as well as any relevant premalignant condition.
Award information
- The maximal award value is $250,000 for each year of the five-year grant, which may include overhead costs of up to 5%.
- An additional $150,000 may be provided to strong IMPACT programs with well-justified expenses.
- The funding is meant to support infrastructure to implement trials at the community locations. All trial costs must be supported by other sources.
- Blood Cancer United IMPACT funding is for 5 years. It is expected that IMPACT awardees will work towards a goal of sustainability of the program beyond Blood Cancer United funding.
Our first IMPACT awardees
We have activated our first IMPACT grants in May 2021 at Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine.
IMPACT at Mayo Clinic:
Grzegorz S. Nowakowski, MD
(IMPACT Director)
REACH: Recruitment Expansion through Community Access to Clinical Trials in Hematologic Malignancies
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has partnered with the Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network and Mayo Clinic Health System to expand clinical trial enrollment among blood cancer patients served at community cancer centers, with a focus on those generally underrepresented in trials. This project includes a network of 35 clinical sites throughout rural, underserved communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, as well as metropolitan Minneapolis.
IMPACT at Vanderbilt University Medical Center:
Michael R. Savona, MD
(IMPACT Director)
Reaching Out to Underserved & Minority Patients with Hematological Diseases in the Southeastern US
Working with the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network (VHAN) and Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation (BMHCC), this IMPACT program reaches the rural South. Among the areas served are half of the counties and parishes in the Delta Regional Authority, which has some of the highest cancer rates in the U.S. The program will increase access, with the option to enroll in 10 clinical trials across seven blood cancer types that will be open at nine Baptist locations around the region.
IMPACT at Weill Cornell Medicine:
John Leonard, MD
(IMPACT Director)
BRIDGE (Blood cancer Research Initiative Developing Greater Engagement) with Community Patients
More than half of the annual blood cancer cases in New York City are among residents of Queens and Brooklyn. Direct access to clinical trials is limited at community hospitals in these boroughs. This IMPACT project, also supported by Genentech, is working with New York-Presbyterian Queens and New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital to increase enrollment at these sites. The program will provide education and training for community physicians and oncologists.
Thank you
We thank our incredible supporters for making the IMPACT Research Grants program possible.
- Bristol Myers Squibb
- Cal Turner, Jr.
- Edward J. Phillips Family Foundation
- Eli Lilly and Company
- Genentech, a member of the Roche Group
- Louise and John Bryan
- Mayo Clinic
- MorphoSys Foundation
- Rahr Corporation
- Royalty Pharma
- Vanderbilt
- Weill Cornell Medicine