Full details on the current call for applications are available at https://professional.dkms.org/research-publications/research-grant . Contact: grant@dkms.org
Since 2015, the DKMS John Hansen Research Grant has been supporting early-career researchers from around the world whose doctoral degree in medicine or the natural sciences (MD, PhD, or equivalent) was awarded no more than ten years ago. The research focus is on innovative cell therapy approaches, transplant immunology, new strategies for treating complications following stem cell transplantation, donor selection issues, cell production, and new diagnostic procedures for blood disorders. The grant is named after Professor John A. Hansen (1943–2019), who was an internationally respected oncologist and distinguished immunogeneticist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. His excellent achievements in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have improved the efficacy and safety of blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants worldwide.
Scientific Excellence and Clinical Relevance
“Science thrives on collaboration and community. That is why we want to support young, brilliant scientists who are driving innovation with their outstanding ideas,” says Prof. Johannes Schetelig, Professor of Stem Cell Transplantation at TU Dresden, Director of Clinical Research at the DKMS Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) in Dresden, and Global Chief Scientific Officer of the DKMS Group as of July 2026. “The DKMS John Hansen Research Grant also enables these highly talented young researchers to build a network to further strengthen their careers and jointly advance the development of lifesaving therapies for blood cancer.”
DKMS: Innovation and Commitment to Blood Cancer Research
DKMS is not only known as the world’s largest stem cell donor database; it is also committed to further improving the treatment and chances of recovery for people with blood cancer and other diseases of the hematopoietic system through stem cell transplantation. The international nonprofit organization conducts its own research in various areas of stem cell transplantation. In addition, it has created a biobank where blood samples and medical data from people with blood cancer and compatible stem cell donors are collected and processed—a resource for scientific research that is rarely available anywhere else in the world. It is developing further approaches to give those affected a second chance at life. These include, for example, international support programs and the cryopreservation of adult stem cells, which are available immediately for allogeneic transplants in urgent cases. With the world’s most powerful HLA typing laboratory, DKMS also makes a significant contribution to medical research and optimizes the search for suitable stem cell donors.
DKMS Impact Grant 2027: Applications due by August 31, 2026
Another current international funding program is the DKMS Impact Grant. This program specifically supports research or sustainability projects for physicians and scientists from nonprofit institutions (including public hospitals) in Central and South America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. The grant amount for up to three projects is €120,000 each over two years. Early-career researchers who wish to implement projects aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment, and care of hematological diseases may submit a letter of intent by August 31, 2026: professional.dkms.org/impact-grant
About DKMS
DKMS is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of patients with blood cancer and blood disorders. It was founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf and has since worked to ensure that more and more patients receive a lifesaving stem cell donation. More than 13.5 million potential donors are registered with DKMS, and to date, the organization has facilitated more than 135,000 blood stem cell donations. In addition to Germany, DKMS is active in the U.S., Poland, the U.K., Chile, India, and South Africa. Through international projects and support programs, DKMS provides even more people worldwide with access to lifesaving therapy. In addition, DKMS is committed to advancing medicine, science, and research to improve patients’ chances of recovery. In its state-of-the-art laboratory, the DKMS Life Science Lab, the organization sets global standards in the typing of potential stem cell donors to find the perfect match for a transplant.