Treating Fairly Research Award Key Information

Program Benefits

The Treating Fairly Research Award provides $200,000 in funding, which may be used over a period of 1, 2, or 3 years depending on the recipient’s preference. It is available to researchers who hold a PhD, an MD/DO, or an MD/DO, PhD who are no longer eligible for the ASH AMFDP and ASH Scholar Awards. 

Supported Research

Applicants are required to submit proposals for hematology research that thoughtfully examines the underlying causes of disparities in health outcomes, or that develop targeted interventions to address these known issues. Projects should be designed to promote fairness and reduce health outcomes gaps between groups, either by deepening understanding of why certain populations experience poorer health or by developing interventions that address and improve these disparities for all hematology patients.

Research can be in the following categories:

• Basic Research
• Translational Research
• Patient-Oriented Clinical Research
• Outcomes-Based Research

For additional details on eligible research categories, please consult the Research Definitions page.

Programmatic Priorities

To maximize the limited resources of the Society while maintaining our rigorous review process and in recognition of the challenges present in the current environment; ASH remains committed to uplifting at-risk communities within hematology, such as those engaged in addressing health outcomes for populations who experience a higher disease burden, or researchers with limited other funding opportunities.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility is determined as of the application deadline. To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a US, Canada, or Mexico citizen conducting research anywhere in the world; or hold a visa or permanent resident status in the US, Canada, or Mexico with plans to conduct research within the US, Mexico, or Canada.
  • Any visa, citizenship and/or U.S. work authorization restrictions applicable to receiving the ASH Award are the responsibility of the applicant.
• Maintain active ASH membership at the application deadline and commit to remaining a member throughout the award period. Not an ASH member yet? Take the first step. Please note that your membership application may be pending at the application deadline but must be approved by the award activation date. Based on the membership application cycles, your membership application may not be processed in time for your membership to become active before the award begins.
• Serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) on the project.
• MD/DO or MD/DO‑PhD applicants must have completed residency more than 13 years prior to the application deadline.
  • If the MD and PhD were earned separately, the completion date of the second degree or residency establishes eligibility.
• PhD or PharmD applicants must have completed their terminal doctoral degree more than 13 years prior to the application deadline.
• Individuals who qualify for the ASH Scholar Award or ASH AIMFD are not eligible for this program.
• Hold a position at an academic institution or an equivalent position at a non-profit research organization. Employees of independent research institutions are eligible to apply if they have a faculty-type appointment and their institution is authorized to independently apply for and receive NIH funding.
• Applicants must have $500,000 or less in other resources available. This excludes
  • Any institutional funding
  • Salary and Fringe
  • Donated clinical trial supplies (e.g. therapies) from industry

Exclusions to Eligibility:

• Individuals who qualify for the ASH Scholar Award are not eligible for this program.
  • If you have never received an R01 or equivalent, have never received an ASH Scholar Award at the Junior Faculty level, or have fewer than 13 years of research experience since your terminal doctoral degree, you might be eligible for the Scholar Award. For clarification, please contact awards@hematology.org to ensure you are applying for the appropriate award.

Application Process

All applications and required supporting materials must be submitted through the  ASH online awards system. Contact ASH staff with any questions awards@hematology.org.

The current application cycle for the ASH Treating Fairly Research Award program is now closed.

Program Requirements

All applications must include the following:

• Completed Application Form
• Completed Budget Form
• Budget Justification
• Applicant’s NIH Biographical Sketch
• Project Proposal
• Certification form (Ethical/IRB paperwork)
• Qualitative Statement Describing Risk Status
• Other Resources Financial Information
• Other Resources Descriptive Statement

Eligible Expenses

• PI salary (the percent effort and related salary from the proposal should be equivalent) and fringe benefits (limited to 15%)
• Travel, if well justified
• Salary and fringe benefits (limited to 15%) of research personnel
• Research supplies
• Equipment (up to $10,000 if required for and justified by the applicant)
• Indirect costs are not allowed

Evaluation, Selection, and Notification

Award applications are assessed based on the scientific merit and qualifications of the applicant. To maintain programmatic balance, a maximum of two awards will be granted per medical school. For this policy, ASH defines a medical school to include all affiliated sub-institutions (e.g., University of Washington would include the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Children's Hospital, etc.).

Individuals selected to receive this award will be notified in March 2026 with the award commencing upon notification. At the time of award, all recipients are required to reaffirm that their ‘other resources’ remain below $500,000.

Terms and Conditions

As a condition of acceptance of this award, it is required that the recipient cite support from the American Society of Hematology in any publication, poster, or presentation describing this supported research.

ASH will pay the award in equal annual installments at the start of each year of the award.

Unused Funds
Any unused funds in an amount equal or greater than $1,000 should be returned to the Society so that they may be repurposed for future grants. Unused funds less than $1,000 are permitted to be appropriately repurposed for other research expenses.

Deferral
A deferred start of up to 3 months can be requested with justification. They should be noted in the application or requested within 10 business days of award notification.

Termination
An award will be terminated if the applicant moves to a non-research position or is dismissed from the institution.

Voluntary Termination
An awardee can terminate their award early and is expected to return unspent funds, they are encouraged to continue to refer to the award in their CV. If an awardee receives another award of significant size (such as an R01), they are asked to consider returning unused funds so that they may be repurposed for future grants.

Transfers
In the event the awardee transfers to another institution during the funding period, continuation of the funding at the new institution may be allowed with prior approval from ASH. To obtain permission, the awardee must make a request in writing to the Society before the transfer occurs.

Reallocation
Awardees may request a reallocation of funds from one expense category to another by submitting the request in writing to the Treasurer at the Society's headquarters. This written request must specify the dollar amount, which categories are impacted, and a justification as to why this change is necessary.

All transfer and/or reallocation requests must be sent to awards@hematology.org. ASH staff will work with the ASH Treasurer to make final determinations.

Final Reports
A final written report (not to exceed four pages) is expected within 60 days of the end of the award period. Award recipients, along with the financial officers from their institutions, must also submit a financial report detailing how the funds were used over the two- or three-year period. This report must be submitted within 60 days of the end of the award period.

Both final reports must be sent to awards@hematology.org.

Evaluation
All award recipients are expected to be responsive to follow up communications from ASH to evaluate the value and impact that the award had on their research and their career.

Benefits
Any benefits associated with the award are for two years, even if payments are spread over three years.

Questions?

For questions about the award, please contact awards@hematology.org.