Translational Research Program (TRP)

Application deadlines

TRP Program Documents

TRP Guidelines and Instructions (PDF)
Policies and Procedures (PDF)
TRP Funding Agreement Template (PDF)

Application focus

For the 2027 grant cycle, TRP applications must demonstrate translational readiness. The following criteria apply:

• Small molecule therapies: Applications must include in vivo proof of concept (POC) in appropriate animal models. In select cases, strong in vitro POC using patient-derived samples may be considered, depending on the mechanism of action.
• Cellular and immunotherapies: In vivo POC is strongly encouraged. However, in vitro POC may be acceptable where it is most appropriate for the therapeutic approach.

Applications that do not meet these criteria should not submit a Letter of Intent (LOI).

Special opportunity for Australian grants

The Snowdome Foundation is an Australian-based not-for-profit organization with whom Blood Cancer United is partnering to enhance our common goal to accelerate cures and better treatments for blood cancer patients. Snowdome Foundation will contribute funding for one meritorious TRP application focused on blood cancer research from an investigator working in Australia, an Australian investigator working in another country, or to Australian and non-Australian researchers jointly applying as co-PIs. Applications must be submitted to the Blood Cancer United TRP program and will be evaluated within the general pool of TRP applications. In addition, applications will be jointly reviewed by Blood Cancer United and Snowdome Foundation to ensure they meet the funding objectives of both organizations, and scientific progress of each awarded TRP will be evaluated by both organizations on an annual basis. Blood Cancer United will administer the grant program. 

Topics of interest include:

• Personalized medicine approach for cancer treatment. Advances in cancer care have significantly improved the lives of patients with hematologic diseases such as AML, CLL, Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas, MM, and ALL. Blood Cancer United believes that, with time, cures can be achieved for certain diseases or subtypes of diseases. Therefore, Blood Cancer United will continue to support research that may revolutionize cancer care for any hematologic disease.
• Development of novel therapies and/or novel therapeutic strategies including those that target mutational and epigenetic events both in the tumor cells and within the microenvironment. Such therapies can be applicable to any hematologic malignancies, but emphasis is warranted in the following areas:
  a)  Aggressive subtypes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma including but not limited to DLBCL, tFL, MCL, PTCL, and ALCL
  b)  Indolent lymphoma, including but not limited to: CLL, FL, WM (therapies with the potential to provide significant extension of lives of patients or total disease control in defined subtypes)
  c)  Myeloid disorders including MPN/MDS/AML as well as lymphoid disorders such as ALL
  d)  Multiple Myeloma and pre-emergent conditions
• Improvements in the safety and efficacy of stem cell transplantation.
• Blood Cancer United is especially interested in novel immunotherapy approaches and understanding novel immune synapses relevant to blood cancers.
• TRP is interested in focusing on diseases of high unmet need. These can include aggressive diseases or diseases that lack effective therapy

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.
• Personnel Expenses: In total, no more than forty percent (40%) of the direct costs may be requested for the salary and fringe benefit expenses of professional staff with a postgraduate degree (i.e., MD, PhD, DVM) regardless of function or role. This restriction does not apply to technical staff (lab assistants, nurses, etc.)