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ASH Research Training Award for Fellows

American Society of Hematology

The ASH Research Training Award for Fellows (RTAF) is designed to encourage junior researchers in hematology, hematology/oncology, and other hematology-related training programs to pursue careers in academic hematology. The RTAF is open to both MD and MD-PhD researchers between their second and fifth year of fellowship.

Program Benefits

The award provides each recipient with $70,000 for a one-year period to guarantee protected time for clinical, basic, or translational research. Additionally, funding is available each year for up to four RTAF recipients to apply for a second year of support.

The funds give fellows in training more time to generate sufficient expertise to be competitive when applying for other awards, such as the ASH Scholar Award, which targets applicants with more extensive research experience and a record of past research success (e.g., publications). Awardees also receive $1,000 the year after their award to support attendance at the ASH annual meeting.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

From analyzing what tends to work in hematology grant applications (with ASH as a reference), these traits or features help proposals stand out:

1. Clear Focus on Hematology / Blood-Disorder Relevance

The research question must address a blood / hematologic disease or physiology: e.g., anemia, leukemia/lymphoma, clotting disorders, bone marrow biology, hemoglobinopathies, transfusion medicine, immune-hematology, etc.

Both basic science (molecular/cellular studies) and clinical/translational or patient-storage/therapy-based proposals are acceptable — but the link to hematology must be explicit.
Predictor: The more directly relevant to blood disease or hematologic mechanisms, the stronger.

2. Scientific Rigor, Novelty & High Potential Impact

Innovative hypotheses, novel therapeutic or diagnostic approaches, or underexplored areas in hematology are valued.

Projects that could lead to improved understanding, better treatments, or translational breakthroughs (e.g. gene therapy, stem-cell, immunotherapy, biomarkers) tend to stand out.

High-impact potential for patient benefit — e.g. better survival, fewer side-effects, improved quality of life — is a plus.
Predictor: Novel, ambitious ideas — balanced with feasibility — get good attention.

3. Feasible, Well-Designed Study Plan With Realistic Aims

Given many ASH awards — especially seed or pilot grants — have limited time and resources, proposals often succeed when scope is modest: 1–2 solid aims rather than many.

Clear methodology, well-justified design, achievable endpoints, and realistic timeline increase trust.

For clinical or translational work: defined cohorts/patient access, ethical plan (IRB), realistic recruitment/retention plan.
Predictor: Focused, feasible, well-constructed proposals — not overly ambitious “wish-lists.”

4. Investigator Credentials & Institutional Support (Especially for Early-Career Applicants)

For early-career grants: presence of mentor(s), institutional resources (labs, clinical access if needed), and protected time for research.

For experienced investigators: prior publication record, prior grant history, or preliminary data strengthen credibility.
Predictor: Strong team and institutional environment signal capacity to follow through.

5. Preliminary Data or Justified Rationale (Especially for Translational / Clinical / Therapeutic Projects)

Having some pilot data (in vitro, in vivo, retrospective clinical, biomarker data) helps demonstrate feasibility and reduce perceived risk.

If no pilot data, a compelling rationale grounded in strong prior literature and realistic experimental design is necessary.
Predictor: Proof-of-concept or well-supported rationale improves odds.

6. Clinical / Patient-Centered Relevance or Translational Pathway

Studies that could result in improved patient outcomes — new therapies, better diagnostics, personalized medicine — are often judged higher than purely descriptive or mechanistic biology without clear translational path.

Where relevant, linking preclinical findings to clinical potential or designing early-phase translational studies increases impact.
Predictor: Translational or clinical-relevance emphasis enhances attractiveness to funders.

7. Ethical Design, Realistic Budget & Transparency

Especially for human/clinical studies, ethical oversight, informed consent, patient safety, data handling must be well thought-out.

Budget should match the scope — avoid inflated budgets or requests for unnecessary resources.

Proper documentation of resources, lab/clinical support, and compliance with regulations helps reviewers.
Predictor: Ethical, realistic, transparent applications reduce risk and encourage funding.

8. Plan for Dissemination & Future Funding Trajectory

Seed / pilot grants are often stepping stones — strong proposals outline how results will lead to larger-scale grants (e.g. NIH, other foundations), collaborations, or clinical trials.

Publication plans, data sharing, and community impact help reviewers assess long-term value.
Predictor: Clear path to future work and broader impact is a major plus.

🚫 Common Weaknesses or Pitfalls (What to Avoid)

Submissions only loosely related to hematology (e.g. general cell biology lacking blood-disease link) — may be seen as misaligned.

Over-ambitious scope for given funding/time (too many aims, unrealistic timelines) — feasibility concerns.

Lack of preliminary data or weak rationale when doing high-risk/high-reward projects — too speculative.

Poorly defined methods, lack of institutional support, or missing plan for human-subject/animal-model compliance.

Unrealistic budgets or unjustified resource requests.

No clear plan for how the funding translates into broader impact, dissemination, or future funding.

🎯 What This Means If You’re Applying to ASH

If you intend to submit a grant/fellowship proposal to ASH:

Ensure your project is centered on a hematology question — disease, physiology, therapy, diagnosis, or patient care.

Build a focused, realistic proposal — 1–2 aims, feasible within funding period — especially if this is a seed / early-career grant.

Provide preliminary data or sound mechanistic rationale, especially for translational or therapeutic work.

Ensure institutional support, resources (lab, clinical, patient access), and mentorship are in place.

Emphasize patient impact or translational potential, not just academic interest.

Budget and timeline must be realistic and well justified.

Include a plan for publication, dissemination, and future funding, so reviewers see long-term value.

Specialties

Cancer

Hematology

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for the Research Training Award for Fellows by the application deadline:

Be a fellow in an ACGME or RCPSC accredited hematology, hematology/oncology, or hematology-related training program in the United States or Canada.

Other Eligibility Requirements

Be an ASH Associate member in good standing or have a membership application pending. To verify your membership status, please log in to your ASH account.

Not an ASH member yet? Take the first step. Submit your membership application at least three weeks prior to the RTAF application deadline to allow sufficient time for processing.
Possess an MD, DO, DO-PhD, or MD-PhD degree.
Plan to pursue an investigative career in hematology research.
Propose research focused on a hematologic condition (solid tumor projects are not eligible).
Have clear and documented support of an established mentor who has active funding (e.g., NIH, federal, foundation, or private) and will remain funded for the duration of the award term, or who is recognized through national clinical leadership (if the project is clinical). The mentor must be an ASH member in good standing for the duration of the award term. If the mentor is not in a hematology-related field, a supporting letter from an ASH member is required. Additional mentors can be recommended by members of the RTAF study section.
Provide documented support from the program director for dedicated research time during the award period.
Provide a document from an institutional leader who has the authority to ensure that 50-75% of the applicant's full-time professional efforts will be devoted to research during the funded period.
Eligible applicants may not hold other ASH awards during the RTAF award term.
Eligible applicants may not hold other career-development funding during the award period, including but not limited to foundation and NIH career development awards (e.g., K12, K23, K01 K08, T32).
- If an applicant has a T32 that will end in December, they can receive the RTAF but will have to defer it for 6 months until January.
The RTAF is to be the recipient's main source of salary support; however, in the event that the recipient's salary is not fully covered by the RTAF, supplementary funding from non-career development awards or grants may be used to pay the balance of the recipient's salary.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Society of Hematology

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 2021 L Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036

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