Who We Fund

The University of New South Wales

Dr. Lock is investigating mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and tests potential new treatments for fast-tracking into early phase clinical trials.

Dr. Lock is Professor of Medicine at UNSW Sydney, Head of the Leukaemia Biology Group and the Blood Cancers Theme at Children’s Cancer Institute and an international leader in preclinical drug testing in acute leukemia. His work has led to the identification of novel mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance in pediatric ALL and to the prioritization of several new agents into clinical trials aimed at improving the treatment of acute leukemia. Dr. Lock has been a Principal Investigator in the NCI-funded pediatric preclinical testing program since 2005 and carries out all of the leukemia testing for the program. He also provides a leadership role in the Australian national precision medicine clinical trial (PRISM) to utilize preclinical drug testing to assist in patient treatment decisions.

Program Name(s)

Translational Research Program

Project Title

Therapeutic targeting of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia using an AKR1C3-activated prodrug

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research

My lab focuses on the tumor microenvironment as a risk factor for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Richter's transformation (RT). We develop therapeutic strategies targeting the interaction between CLL/RT and the TME. This research has been my focus since my postdoctoral studies, where I investigated auto-antigens in the TCL-1 mouse model and expanded this work in TCL-1/IgK-AID double transgenic mice that develop RT spontaneously. I've also created preclinical CLL patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, including SRG-BA6 mice, which allow for the study of human lymph node fibroblastic stromal cells. Recently, I’ve gained expertise in single nucleus RNA sequencing, multiplex imaging, and using PDX models to develop novel therapies like R110-CART for CLL and RT. My lab is committed to interdisciplinary studies with therapeutic implications, and I have extensive experience in project management and collaboration, positioning me well to advance this research.

Program Name(s)

Translational Research Program

Project Title

Targeting TLR9 Signaling to restore immunomodulating function of FRCs in Richter's Transformation

Dr. Manabu Fujisawa received M.D. from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. Motivated by the experience as a hematologist having treated many patient with treatment-resistant disease, Dr. Fujisawa conducted a clinical study on clonality and clinical progression in multiple myeloma in Kameda Medical Center, Chiba. Dr. Fujisawa then began his basic research at University of Tsukuba in 2016, where he received PhD under the supervision of Pr. Mamiko Sakata-yanagimoto. Pr. Sakata’s lab focused on clonal hematopoiesis and malignant lymphoma, which Dr. Fujisawa studied the function of clonal hematopoietic-derived immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. In 2022, Dr. Fujisawa joined the laboratory of Pr. Christian Steidl in Lymphoid Cancer Research at the BC Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver, Canada, as a postdoctoral fellow.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Spatial architecture and malignant cell characterization of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma

Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Fehniger is a physician-scientist that leads a research program focused on translational NK cell biology and therapy. His group pioneered studies characterizing memory-like (ML) NK cell biology and activity against AML and has led clinical trials advancing ML NK cell adoptive therapy for both adult and pediatric patients. Dr. Fehniger is director of the Biologic Therapies Core Facility and Laboratory Director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy. His team developed the platform and protocols for production of GMP grade ML NK cells for use in academic clinical trials. His lab performs correlative immunology to understand ML NK cell biology and identify mechanisms of resistance to NK cells in patients. Dr. Fehniger has extensive experience in human NK cell biology, flow and mass cytometry, single cell analysis, and immunotherapy. For the proposed clinical trial, Dr. Fehniger will work with clinical co-investigators in pediatric and adult stem cell transplant programs.

Program Name(s)

Academic Clinical Trials Program (ACT)

Project Title

NK cell immunotherapy to reduce relapse after haploidentical transplant for high-risk pediatric AML

The University of Melbourne

I am an Assoc. Prof. and Group Leader at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac; Melbourne, Australia). I formed my group in 2018 and my research program is focused upon enhancing the effectiveness of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, a form of immune therapy where a patient’s own immune cells are genetically engineered to recognize and kill tumor cells. I have published numerous seminal papers and research metrics place me in the top 1% of researchers in my field. Despite being a PI for just 5 years, I have already led 1 CAR T clinical trial and I am currently developing a second trial with a technology developed in my lab in 2020.

Previously my focus has been on using CAR T to treat cancers such as breast and lung cancer. However, recent clinical data indicates that CAR T cells have significant potential in multiple myeloma. Therefore, this project will be a key strategic enabler, allowing me to apply approaches developed in my lab to this disease.

Program Name(s)

Translational Research Program

Exploiting escape from Y-inactivation as a synthetic dependency in MYC-driven lymphoma

Fox Chase Cancer Center

I completed my Ph.D. training with Dr. Michelle Kelliher at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, studying the ubiquitin-dependent signal transduction pathways. With this foundation, I joined Dr. Louis Staudt’s laboratory at the National Cancer Institute as a research fellow in 2010 to exploit the roles of innate immune signaling and protein ubiquitination machinery in the pathogenesis of Diffuse Large B cell lymphoma. In 2015, I received an NCI Transition Career Development Award to further investigate the roles of immune signaling and protein ubiquitination in lymphoid malignancies. I accepted a tenure track faculty position and started my lab at Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) as an Assistant Professor in May 2016. At FCCC, I decided to shift my studies to the field of Peripheral T-Cell lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, which have minimal available targeted therapy options currently. The main focus of my laboratory is to understand the immune regulatory pathways in these lymphoid malignancies.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Analysis and therapeutic targeting of the immune regulatory and ubiquitination pathways in Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma and Hodgkin Lymphoma

University of Manchester

Sam Butterworth joined the University of Manchester as a Senior Lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry in November 2016. Prior to this he worked at the University of Birmingham from 2013 and at AstraZeneca from 2005-2013. During this time he has been accountable for chemistry strategy and delivery for all phases of drug discovery projects from target review and hit generation, through to lead optimisation and pre-clinical development. His work at AstraZeneca led to the development of a targeted anti-cancer agent osimertinib that was approved by the FDA in November 2015, and along with his colleagues Sam has been recognised for this work through the 2017 RSC Malcolm Campbell Award and the 2018 ACS Heroes of Chemistry award. Since returning to academia he has established national and international collaborations focussing on translation research, predominantly in Oncology, and has been awarded >£8M translational funding as PI.

Program Name(s)

CMML Initiative

Project Title

Development of peptide-drug conjugates for the treatment of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML)

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Monika Mittal is a dedicated researcher specializing in cancer biology, with a focus on acute myeloid leukemia (AML). With a strong background in molecular biology and biochemistry, Dr. Mittal aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of blood cancers and develop innovative therapeutic strategies. Currently, Dr. Mittal is investigating the role of DCAF15, a protein that regulates cellular processes, to understand its impact on AML progression and treatment. By employing advanced techniques such as gene editing and targeted protein degradation, Dr. Mittal aims to create new therapeutic strategies that can improve patient outcomes. Passionate about translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications, Dr. Mittal is committed to improving outcomes for those affected by blood cancers, driving research forward to find more effective treatments for AML. Through collaboration and innovation, Dr. Mittal hopes to make a meaningful difference in the fight against leukemia.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Leveraging the ubiquitin proteasome system for targeted therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Koichi Takahashi, MD, PhD is Associate Professor in the Departments of Leukemia and Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He received MD degree from Niigata University School of Medicine and PhD degree from Kyoto University School of Medicine, both in Japan. He then did internal medicine residency at Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, followed by hematology and oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. During the fellowship, he was trained in Dr. Andrew Futreal’s Lab for cancer genomics. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology. Dr. Takahashi is well known for his research in delineating how selection of pre-existing clonal hematopoiesis under chemotherapy contributes to the development of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms. His laboratory uses state-of-the-art single-cell technologies to understand the mechanism of leukemia development and create strategies for early detection and prevention.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Understanding the clonal origin, evolution, and progression of myeloid malignancies

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

I am a first-generation college graduate with a Master’s degree in Chemistry and Ph.D. in Biochemistry. My long-term career goal is to lead my own research group focused on understanding key immunological pathways by which the human body fights infection and to develop effective therapies that target blood cancers. During my research career thus far, I have gained a unique repertoire with expertise in chemical biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology with broad knowledge in immunology, cancer biology, and virology. Currently, I am training at the University of North Carolina's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center under the mentorship of Blossom Damania who is a leader in the fields of viral oncogenesis and viral immunology. As many people have had the misfortune of personal or family experience with blood cancers, myself included, I am devoted to advancing my training and progressing research in this field to help alleviate the burden of these diseases.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Project Title

Elucidating the role of FAM72A in EBV-driven B cell lymphomagenesis

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Philippe Armand, MD, PhD, is the Chief of the Lymphoma Division and the Harold and Virginia Lash/David Lash Chair in Lymphoma Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Armand’s research interests center on the treatment of lymphoma. His primary research focus is the study of immunotherapy to improve the efficacy of treatment and the outcome of patients with a variety of lymphoma types. Other areas of specific research interest are the study of CAR-T therapy in lymphoma and the development of next-generation assays to characterize, track and target tumors, especially aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin Lymphomas and Hodgkin Lymphoma. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University, Dr. Armand received his Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of California at San Francisco. He completed his internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and fellowship training at DFCI.

Program Name(s)

Career Development Program

Checkpoint-Based Immunotherapy in Follicular Lymphoma

University of Florida

Jonathan D. Licht, MD, is the Director of the University of Florida Health Cancer Institute, leading it to become the 72nd NCI-designated center in the country. Dr. Licht’s laboratory studies the role of abnormal function of histone methyltransferases and demethylases in malignancies such as multiple myeloma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia and recently described a new class of mutations in histones in cancer. NCI funded for nearly 35 years, Dr. Licht is also Principal Investigator of a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Specialized Center of Research, now in its 17th year of funding. He is the founding Editor- in-Chief of Blood Neoplasia, a new journal of the American Society of Hematology, and serves on the editorial boards of Cancer Research, Oncogene and Clinical Cancer Research. Dr. Licht was the first chair of the AACR Taskforce on Hematological Malignancies of and currently is Chair of the Medical/Scientific Board of the LLS. Dr. Licht has published more than 230 articles, reviews and book chapters and has mentored over 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and 20 faculty members.

Program Name(s)

Specialized Center of Research Program

Translational Research Program

Targeting Enhancer Dysfunction in Hematological Malignancy

Adenylate Kinase 2-A Novel Therapeutic Target in Multiple Myeloma