WASHINGTON, DC September 18, 2025 – The Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation (HCLF) and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, now Blood Cancer United, have renewed their partnership to support the HCL2030 grant program which expands research in hairy cell leukemia (HCL) to uncover novel features of HCL biology, develop new therapies, and improve patient outcomes.
The program will entail an investment of $5 to $7 million over approximately five years.
“Forty years ago, patients established the Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation with an unwavering commitment to innovative research and advocacy in HCL, a rare blood cancer,” said Anna Lambertson, Executive Director of the HCLF. “Collaboration is essential to our mission, and we are excited to extend our partnership with Blood Cancer United to accelerate our progress toward finding a cure for HCL.”
HCL2030 is a continuation of an initiative launched in 2020 when the organizations joined forces to invest up to $10 million over five years in targeted research of HCL. During the initial partnership, the HCLF and Blood Cancer United funded 8 grants from institutions around the world.
Earlier funding supported Enrico Tiacci, MD, at the University of Perugia in Italy, in his work that demonstrated nearly all patients with classic HCL (cHCL), a common form of HCL, have a mutation in a protein known as BRAF, which is known to induce cancer. Vemurafenib, a targeted cancer therapy known as a kinase inhibitor, is an inhibitor of BRAF and an approved therapy to treat melanoma patients with mutant BRAF. The HCLF and Blood Cancer United funded Dr. Tiacci to investigate the use of vemurafenib as an alternative to the chemotherapy-based standard of care for HCL. He and others were able to show that vemurafenib partially controls HCL. This ongoing research — continued with funding from the HCLF and Blood Cancer United — has opened new therapeutic options for individuals with HCL.
“At Blood Cancer United, we are dedicated to funding groundbreaking research that leads to better outcomes and higher quality of life for patients — including for rare and hard to treat blood cancers” said Lore Gruenbaum, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Blood Cancer United. “Collaborating with organizations like the Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation, a leader in HCL research, education, and patient support, accelerates research momentum and builds on earlier successes to identify the next breakthrough in HCL.”
Learn more about the HCL2030 Initiative at https://bloodcancerunited.org/research/grants/hcl2030
About Hairy Cell Leukemia
HCL is a rare hematological malignancy that infiltrates the blood, bone marrow, spleen, and other organs. First described in the late 1950s, HCL is characterized by overgrowth of abnormal white blood cells that compromises the production of normal blood cells. It is named for the unique short, thin hair-like projections on the surface of these blood cancer cells. Approximately 1,200 Americans are diagnosed with HCL annually. While the disease is not considered curable, HCL generally responds well to cytotoxic chemotherapy and patients can experience durable remissions of five to 15 years or longer.
Approximately 10 to 15% of HCL patients have HCL-variant, a more aggressive form of the disease. Those patients tend to relapse more quickly and have a poor survival rate. Overall, HCL affects men four times more often than women. The cause of the malignancy and striking male dominance is unknown.
About Blood Cancer United®
Blood Cancer United® (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) is the largest global nonprofit focused on blood cancer patient support, research, and advocacy. The organization’s mission is to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. To achieve it, Blood Cancer United brings together a community of people—patients and their families, volunteers, healthcare providers, scientists, staff, partners, fundraisers, and philanthropists—who believe all blood cancer patients deserve longer, fuller lives.
Since the organization’s founding in 1949, it has consistently evolved to better serve people affected by all 100-plus types of blood cancers—including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Blood Cancer United offers free, trustworthy resources, personalized support, and community for anyone affected by blood cancer. The organization has invested more than $2 billion in clinical research, which continues to increase survival rates. Blood Cancer United advocates nationally and locally for more accessible and affordable healthcare for all patients.
For support and to learn more, visit BloodCancerUnited.org. Patients can contact blood cancer information specialists at (800) 966-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Connect with the organization on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.