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Cord Blood Research Grant

The AABB Foundation Cord Blood Research Grant supports original investigator-initiated research advancing the biology, manufacturing, and banking of cord blood and cord tissue-derived products and therapeutics.

The grant is intended for investigators whose work has the potential to make significant contributions to basic, translational or clinical research.

Applications for the 2026 Cord Blood Research Grant are now open. Apply by Sept. 13, 2026.

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2025 Recipient

James P. Ropa, PhDJames P. Ropa, PhD

Indiana University School of Medicine

Project: Omics Identification of Potency Associated Genes in Umbilical Cord Blood: Predictive Tools and Expansion Targets.

Summary: The research goal is to improve cord blood unit selection for cell therapies by using transcriptomic assessment of donor units with known or predicted transplantation efficacy to elucidate a novel gene expression-based potency assay and to target identified gene programs to improve cord blood expansion protocols. This proposal will have a positive impact by validating targeted gene panels to identify donor units of high potency and by revealing gene programs correlated with hematopoietic cell function in the context of patient hematopoietic cell transplantation, providing insight into improving existing treatment protocols for patients with hematologic and other disorders.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Hold a doctoral degree (MD, PhD or equivalent) or be a doctoral candidate, postdoctoral researcher or faculty within 10 years of earning a terminal degree.
  • Be affiliated with an academic institution, research institution or other non-commercial organization.

Areas of Research

Areas of research include, but are not limited to:

  • Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation (UCBT), including applications in:
    • Blood cancers (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma)
    • Bone marrow failure syndromes
    • Congenital immunodeficiency syndromes
    • Inherited leukodystrophies
    • Genetic blood disorders (e.g. sickle cell disease, thalassemia)
    • Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) mitigation strategies
  • Regenerative Medicine
    • Non-hematologic uses of cord blood stem cells for regenerating damaged tissues
  • Cord Blood Derived Cell Therapy/Cellular Immunotherapy
  • Cord Blood Banking Studies
  • Gene Therapy
  • Ex Vivo Expansion

Selection Process

A committee of expert reviewers appointed by the AABB Foundation will make funding recommendations, subject to final approval by the AABB Foundation Board of Directors. Applicants will not receive written critiques after review.

The AABB Foundation will award up to two $50,000 grants to investigators to support their proposed research projects during the two-year grant period, from Nov. 1, 2026, through Oct. 31, 2028. As a condition of accepting the award, recipients are expected to present their funded proposal at the 2026 AABB Annual Meeting, taking place Oct. 17-19, 2026, in Atlanta, GA. Recipients must agree to attend, barring unforeseen circumstances or conflicts, and may also be asked to present updates or findings at subsequent AABB Annual Meetings or AABB Foundation forums. The AABB Foundation will provide financial support for the recipient's travel for this purpose.

Key Dates and Deadlines
  • The application submission deadline is 11:59 pm EDT, Sept. 13, 2026.
  • Applicants will be notified of award decisions by Oct. 5, 2026.
  • Recipients present their funded proposal at the AABB Annual Meeting, Oct. 17-19, 2026, and grant funds will be disbursed in full in November 2026.
  • Recipients are required to submit an interim progress report at the end of the first year and a final report within 60 days after the grant end date.

Further Inquiries

If you have any questions on this application process, please contact the AABB Foundation at foundation@aabb.org.


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