Discovery Grant Program (DGP)

Eligibility

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 non-academic facilities are not eligible.

Investigators must demonstrate that their research environment is equipped and suitable for all aspects of the work.

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 Co-Principal Investigator who has the required significant track record in hematology and/or blood cancer research.

Summary

Blood Cancer United is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 application cycle of the Discovery Grant Program (DGP). DGP is a research award program designed to encourage cutting-edge basic research, technological innovation, and informatics pipeline development to advance understanding of blood cancer mechanisms, improve detection and monitoring, and identify novel therapeutic targets. Blood Cancer United is sponsoring and issuing this Request for 

Applications (RFA) from established independent academic investigators for support of foundational, discovery-stage research that can lead to advances in the treatment and cure of blood cancers. Blood Cancer United recognizes the need for 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.

Overhead

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.

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.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available 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.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

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 edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application