Call for Applications: Blood Service Research Fund Grants 2026

16.03.2026

Applications for the 2026 grants from the Blood Service Research Fund are now open to researchers. The aim of the grants is to support research related to the Blood Service’s current and future products and services. The application period is 16 March – 12 April 2026.

The Blood Service Research Fund is a fund established by the Finnish Red Cross, and the use of its funds is decided annually by the Board of the Finnish Red Cross. The purpose of the fund is to support the implementation of the Blood Service’s research strategy.

The grants are primarily intended for scientific projects carried out outside the Blood Service that support the priority areas of the Blood Service research strategy. Funding can be applied for scientific research focusing on voluntary donation of blood, tissues and organs and changes in donation, as well as research on the Blood Service’s operating environment and changes within it.

Research fields may include, for example, social sciences, medical and nursing sciences, or biomedicine. In 2026, a maximum of €200,000 will be distributed in funding.

Application instructions available on the Blood Service website

Funding can be applied for research costs, salaries, personal grants, or researcher visits to or from Finland. Conference travel is not supported.

Application instructions and the application form are available on the Blood Service website.

Applications will be reviewed by an evaluation committee. Decisions on the allocation of grants, made by the Blood Service Board, will be communicated to the responsible researchers named in the application in autumn 2026.

Since 2021, grants from the research fund have supported research on blood donation and blood use, as well as research on cell therapies, blood cells and organ transplantation. Previously awarded grants can be found on our website.