Funding from Blood Cancer United can lead to scientific breakthroughs that will improve and save the lives of patients.
The Blood Cancer United Research Team oversees the organization's research strategy to support cutting-edge research for every type of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
Take a look at all the currently active, extraordinary Blood Cancer United-funded research projects.
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University Health Network
A proportion of follicular lymphoma patients will experience early treatment failure and premature death. We will delineate the molecular features that underlie treatment failure from a recent randomized trial (BIONIC) & Canadian cohort via 3 aims: 1) confirm the prognostic significance of prior reported biomarkers (eg, m7-FLIPI, etc); 2) establish the genetic taxonomy of FL via integrated genomic analyses and consensus clustering; and 3) determine the prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA.
Project Term: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022
Washington University in St. Louis
The objective of this project is to decipher mechanisms driving transformation of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) to secondary acute leukemia (sAML). We have identified increased expression of DUSP6 and RSK1 in sAML patient cells. Genetic/pharmacologic targeting suggest a role for DUSP6 and RSK1 in MPN development. We thus propose studies to determine how DUSP6 and RSK1 contribute to MPN pathogenesis, and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of DUSP6 and/or RSK1 inhibition for MPN patients.
Project Term: October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2024
Universidad de Navarra
Multiple myeloma remains largely incurable and there is consensus that the pathway to cure cancer involves treating patients earlier. Thus, there is an unmet need to develop methods for early detection of pre-malignant disease and to help tailoring treatment for patients with smoldering myeloma. We aim to develop new methods for minimally invasive characterization of patients with smoldering myeloma in order to treat disease causation instead of symptomatology and increase curability rates.
Project Term: October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2024
Children's Research Institute
SARS-Cov-2 infections may be prolonged in cancer patients and may enable intrahost development of virulent viral variants. Adoptive immunotherapy with virus-specific T-cells has been an effective treatment for refractory viral infections in immunocompromised patients following HSCT. We propose to study the functionality of coronavirus-specific T-cells (CSTs) from healthy donors, and utilize CSTs as preventative therapy for patients undergoing bone marrow transplant in a phase I study.
Project Term: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2024
The University of Melbourne
We have identified the multi-domain protein DCAF1 as a genetic dependency in multiple myeloma and developed a series of potent on-target DCAF1 inhibitors that have a unique mode of action compared with existing therapies. In this proposal we will continue the detailed molecular characterization of our lead compound Vpr8. In parallel, using Vpr8 as the scaffold, we will develop a new series of PROTAC drugs that engage the ubiquitin ligase activity of DCAF1-containing E3 complexes.
Project Term: October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2024
King's College London
Through phenotypic and functional studies of immune cells, proteomic mapping of immune responses and genomic studies of variant strains, this project will assess the evolution of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccine responses in hemato-oncology patients. Integration of immunological profiles and genomic outcomes with clinical characteristics will inform future best patient management, especially for those patients at risk of prolonged infection with long term viral shedding.
Project Term: September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2024
The University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Our research aim is to improve outcomes for high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and associated acute myeloid leukaemia patients who are refractory to azacitidine or its derivative decitabine, the most effective pharmacotherapeutics for these blood cancers. To this end, we will identify and evaluate therapeutic alternatives for this population of patients by leveraging discoveries and using clinical samples collected from an on-going investigator initiated clinical trial.
Project Term: January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The most aggressive forms of DLBCL are marked by alterations that result in MYC and BCL2/6 activation. In cases without genetic alterations at these loci, the mechanisms underpinning their overexpression remains largely unknown. Herein, we will examine how a putative driver of DLBCL (hnRNP K) impacts disease progression through its direct regulation of these critical oncogenes and evaluate treatment responses using clinical samples and animal models for this high-risk DLBCL patient population.
Project Term: July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2021
Northwestern University
Current therapy for MPNs remains suboptimal with ongoing risks for thrombosis. Newer drug such as JAK inhibitor has toxicity and is not curative. New targeted therapy with less side effects is urgently needed in the field. This project focuses on the inhibitors of Plek2, a novel target of MPNs. We have identified lead compounds of Plek2 through screening and medicinal chemistry. We propose to further study the mechanisms of action of the inhibitors and perform in vivo studies using MPN models.
Project Term: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022
Rockefeller University
This project will generate optimized single-chain antibodies (nanobodies) against HVEM and BTLA, two cell receptors that are misregulated in ~75% of follicular lymphomas. We will select for nanobodies that inhibit lymphoma tumor growth through restoration of HVEM or BTLA activity. We will further engineer lymphoma-targeted CAR-T cells, which have shown anti-tumor activity in other malignancies, to secrete these anti-HVEM or anti-BTLA nanobodies, in an alternative combination therapy approach.
Project Term: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022
Stanford University
Niclosamide is an FDA approved anti-parasitic drug that is well tolerated in adults and children. AML cells are sensitive to niclosamide, act synergistically with chemotherapy in vitro, and inhibit the proliferation of primary AML stem cells in vivo. We propose to examine the effects of niclosamide in combination with chemotherapy in animal models of AML and study the mechanism of action of niclosamide in AML cells in anticipation of a clinical trial in children with relapsed AML.
Project Term: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022
Emory University
The BCL-2 antagonist venetoclax is highly cytotoxic in a subset of t(11;14) multiple myeloma (MM). In investigating the metabolic basis for the sensitivity of t(11;14) MM to venetoclax, we determined that sensitive cells exhibit significantly reduced succinate ubiquinone reductase (SQR) activity. In addition, inhibition of SQR sensitizes resistant MM to venetoclax. Our proposal seeks to investigate SQR as a diagnostic and therapeutic target to broaden the application of this potent BH3 mimetic.
Project Term: July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2021
Who We Fund
Learn more about the inspiring blood cancer scientists we support—and leading biotech companies we partner with— who are working to find cures and help blood cancer patients live longer, better lives.
Research Grants
We award grants for studies that range from basic blood cancer research to pioneering clinical trials. For more than seventy years, Blood Cancer United support has been instrumental in the development of the vast majority of breakthroughs in blood cancer treatment.
Therapy Acceleration Program ®(TAP)
TAP is a mission-driven, strategic venture philanthropy initiative that seeks to accelerate the development of innovative blood cancer therapeutics and change the standard of care while also generating a return on investment for the Blood Cancer United mission. TAP collaborates with biotech companies to support the development of novel platforms, first-in-class assets addressing high unmet medical needs, emerging patient populations, and orphan indications.