The LLS Discovery Grant Program (formerly Blood Cancer Discoveries Grant Program) funds pioneering early–stage basic research and technological innovation in blood cancer biology. Awards support proof-of-concept studies to elucidate disease mechanisms, develop novel biomarkers, and identify groundbreaking therapeutic targets.
Eligibility Criteria:
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Principal Investigator must be an established investigator with > 3 years in an independent faculty appointment at LOI submission.
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Open to basic research on blood cancer mechanisms—clonal evolution, autophagy, metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage response, microenvironment/immune interactions, neoantigen discovery, and resistance pathways.
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Excludes clinical trials/correlative studies, drug development beyond proof-of-concept, confirmatory/minimally incremental work, research outside blood cancer context, and normal hematopoiesis studies.
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Current DGP/BCDG awardees may not apply this cycle.
Funding Details:
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Budget: Up to $250,000 USD/year ($750,000 USD total over 3 years), inclusive of indirect costs (capped at 10%).
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Funds cover all project-related expenses, including personnel, supplies, equipment, and approved overhead.
Deadline:
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Letter of Intent Due: August 19, 2025, 3:00 PM Eastern Time
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Call for Proposals Opens: June 30, 2025
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Full Application Deadline (invitees only): November 19, 2025, 3:00 PM ET
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Notifications: Full-application invites in late September 2025; Awards announced April 2026; Funding begins July 1, 2026.
Where to Go for Further Information:
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Download 2025 DGP Guidelines & Instructions and Funding Agreement Template from the LLS Research Portal.
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Create or access your account via the LLS Research Portal at research.lls.org.
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For technical or program questions, refer to the Guidelines document or contact the LLS Research team via the portal’s helpdesk.