CANCER

Bloodwise 45
HOW WE WORK
OUR APPLICATION PROCESS
STEP 1: THE APPLICATION
Applicants outline the objectives of their research in
detail, highlighting how they plan to achieve them and
how their research will benefit patients with a blood
cancer.
Applicants for clinical trials must also submit a draft
trial protocol. This describes what treatments patients
entered onto this trial will receive, and when.
STEP 2: PEER REVIEW
All applications for all categories of award are sent to
expert referees worldwide for evaluation based on the
following criteria: is it the right research, at the right
time, in the right place, with the right people? Up to six
referees will be consulted for individual applications.
We draw on a database of over 500 experts, who we rely
on for informed advice and recommendations about
each application.
We check all potential external peer reviewers for any
potential conflict of interest with an application, before
we ask for their opinion on it. Reviewers are also asked
to declare any conflicts of interest they may have with
the application or applicant/s which might not be
known to us.
In addition, specialist programmes are assessed at a
site visit, where a committee of experts from around
the world visit the team under review at their host
institution or university. A report on the conclusions
and recommendations of the site visit committee is
then presented to our Research Committee.
Candidates who are short listed for training and career
development awards are interviewed by the sub-
Committee, which then makes recommendations to the
Research Committee.
Applications for phase I and II clinical trials make
presentations to the Clinical Trials Committee and take
questions on their trial design.
Committee members aren’t allowed access to review
documents for their own applications or for any
applications from the same institution. In additional,
they aren’t present when their own application
or applications from their institutions are being
discussed.
STEP 4: BOARD OF TRUSTEES
All recommendations for all awards made by the three
committees are reported to our Board of Trustees, who
make the final decisions on which applications will be
approved for funding.
We’re profoundly grateful for the expertise and time of
the very many volunteers who ensure that we uphold
the very best standards of review at all times and
ensure that we optimise every penny that we receive
for the benefit of patients.
As our research portfolio becomes ever more
translational, we recognise that the division of
responsibilities between our committees is becoming
increasingly blurred. With that in mind, in the coming
year we’ll be exploring how to develop our committees
so they’re structured in a way that enhances our ability
to optimise the connection between our research,
trials-associated research projects and clinical trials.
STEP 3: COMMITTEE MEETING
All applications, together with the reviewer’s reports,
are considered by every member of the designated
committee. The committee meetings allow the
members to discuss the merits of each application
submitted in that round. They then draw up a list of
applications recommended for funding.
Bloodwise trading as Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Company limited by guarantee 738089
Registered charity 216032 (England & Wales) SC037529 (Scotland)