Discovery Grants Program 2025-2026

Eligibility

Citizenship 
The program welcomes applications from US citizens and non-US citizens, as well as applicants who are performing research outside the United States. 

Degree 
Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, DVM, or equivalent degree. 

Institutional Affiliation 
Applicants must be independent investigators affiliated with a non-profit institution at the time funding commences and for the duration of the award. Applications from nonacademic facilities are not eligible.

The Principal Investigator (PI): 
• MUST be a person (companies or institutions are not eligible) 
• MUST be an independent investigator at the time of the Letter of Intent, defined as a scientist who has dedicated laboratory space, directly hires, and supervises laboratory personnel (technicians, graduate students, postdocs, and staff scientists), and makes all decisions concerning research activities and use of the grant funds 
• MUST be an established investigator, defined as a researcher with more than 3 years in an independent faculty appointment at the time of the Letter of Intent
• may only submit ONE application per cycle and cannot serve as a PI OR Co-Principal Investigator on more than ONE application per cycle 
• CAN serve as a Collaborator on other applications provided aims differ 
• if the applicant can demonstrate a significant track record in malignant hematology and/or blood cancer research, a co-PI may strengthen the proposal but is not required 
• 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 CoPrincipal Investigator who has the required significant track record in hematology and/or blood cancer research

Summary

The Discovery Grant Program (DGP) is aimed at supporting cutting edge, discovery oriented innovation research, concerned with understanding blood cancer properties and vulnerabilities and aimed toward advancing treatments for blood cancers.

Each applicant must submit the LOI using the webform available on the LLS Research Portal. There is no LOI template available for download and the LOI abstract must be typed or copied/pasted directly into the respective text fields. Only characters available in the standard Latin alphabet may be used, and no images nor references are allowed. 

LOIs should provide brief descriptions of how the goals and/or approaches are novel and innovative, and what impact the research may have on blood cancer. All LOIs will be reviewed, and those judged to be the most promising, competitive, and responsive to the goals of the program will be invited to submit a full application.

The deadline is August 19, 2025, at 3:00pm ET, or the following business day if this date falls on a weekend or a U.S. holiday. If the LOI is approved, the applicant will be notified by an automated email from LLS Research Portal stating that he/she/they may proceed to the full application phase. Applicants may also check the status of their LOI on the LLS Research Portal

Overhead

Capped at 10% of the total award amount.

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Additional Resources

Using RMS:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge to Impact Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KTI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KTI team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.