Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT)

Eligibility

The Principal Investigator (PI):
¿ Must be an individual (not a company or institution)
¿ Must be an independent investigator with demonstrated experience in organizing,
managing, and implementing clinical trials while protecting participant rights and welfare
¿ Must be an established investigator with 3+ years in an independent faculty appointment
¿ May submit only one ACT application per cycle and cannot serve as PI or Co-PI on
multiple ACT applications per cycle
¿ If applying to other Blood Cancer United programs, proposal goals must be substantially
different
¿ Can serve as Collaborator on other applications with different aims
¿ Not eligible: Clinical fellows, residents, postdoctoral fellows, or instructors

Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) ¿ Maximum of Two (2)
¿ Must be an individual (not a company or institution)
¿ Must be an independent investigator with demonstrated experience in organizing,
managing, and implementing their portion of the clinical trial to meet milestones and
timelines
¿ May strengthen proposals when bringing complementary experience (e.g., statistical
expertise, specific disease area knowledge, regulatory experience, analytic methods
expertise), but is not required if the PI has sufficient blood cancer research background
¿ May serve as PI or Co-PI on only one ACT application per cycle
¿ Can serve as Collaborator on other applications with different aims
¿ Must be designated at the Letter of Intent phase in the Blood Cancer United Research
portal (Fluxx)

Scientific Staff/Collaborators/Other Key Personnel:
¿ Must be individuals (not companies or institutions)
¿ May strengthen the proposed work but are not required
¿ May provide expert insight, guidance, or feedback on research progress
¿ May participate in different projects or programs with differing aims

Summary

Blood Cancer United's Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT) supports investigator-initiated Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in blood cancers and related premalignant conditions that address unmet clinical needs and have potential for near-term patient impact. Awards provide up to $1 million USD over three years and support studies ready to begin enrolment within 3 to 6 months of the October 1, 2027 start date.

The program prioritizes highly innovative therapies and trial designs, including novel biologics, small molecules, immunotherapies, tumour microenvironment approaches, prevention and early-intervention strategies, personalized medicine, companion diagnostics, stem cell transplantation improvements, and technologies such as AI-enabled or decentralized clinical trials. All therapeutic modalities are eligible, though biologics and small molecules may be favoured in this funding round. Existing trials, indication expansions, and new cohorts are also eligible if aligned with program priorities.

Overhead

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