MPN Research Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Announce $1 Million in Research Funding for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 14, 2014 -- The MPN Research Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) are proud to announce that ten new research projects will received funding through their collaboration, renamed MPN Challenge in 2014. Winners of these one year grants focus on five areas, selected during a meeting of academia and industry convened by the MPN Research Foundation last year in Chicago, IL. These focus areas are: Reducing the MPN Allelle Burden, Selective JAK2 Inhibition; Immunotheraphy; CALR Mutation; and Fibrosis & the Bone Marrow Niche.
Each winner will receive $100,000 over one year, for a total of $1 million in targeted MPN research. Projects will have an opportunity for achievement-based follow up funding. The winners are:
• Nadia Carlesso, MD, PhD – Indiana University School of Medicine
• Michael Deininger, MD, PhD – University of Utah Cancer Center
• Lei Ding, PhD – Columbia University Medical School
• Angela Fleischman, MD, PhD & Richard Van Etten, MD, PhD – UC Irvine Department of Medicine
• Robert Kralovics, PhD – Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
• Ann Mullally, MD – Harvard Medical School
• Katya Ravid, MD, PhD – Boston University School of Medicine
• Gary Reuther, PhD – Moffit Cancer Center
• Jean-Luc Villeval, PhD; Sandra Pellegrini, PhD; & Stefan Constantinescu, MD, PhD – INSERM; Institut Pasteur; Universite Catholique de Louvain
• Leonard Zon, MD - Boston Children’s Hospital
The grant review was conducted by a multi-disciplinary group overseen by the MPN Research Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board Chair Dr. Andrew Schafer from Weil Cornell.
Says Foundation President Barbara Van Husen “The emergence of new treatments for MF patients is encouraging, but until there is proof that these emerging treatments actually change the course of these diseases, fears about conversion to MF (from ET or PV) or to AML (from MF) will remain. We at MPNRF and LLS seek to change this future, and we believe a focus on new approaches towards MPN research can change the trajectory of these diseases.”
About The Myeloproliferative Research Foundation
The MPN Research Foundation is the only organization fully dedicated to funding research into the myeloproliferative neoplasms, a rare group of blood cancers which include polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis. Founded in 2000 by a group of patients, the focus is to fund high innovation research that can expand our understanding of the MPNs and get us closer to a cure.
The Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board works with the patient-led board of directors to utilize a rigorous selection process to ensure donations are allocated to the most innovative research projects. To date, the Foundation has awarded ten million dollars for MPN research. More information may be obtained at http://www.mpnresearchfoundation.org or by contacting us at mwoehrle(at)mpnresearchfoundation(dot)org or 312-683-7243.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit http://www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
Michelle Woehrle, MPN Research Foundation, http://www.mpnresearchfoundation.org, +1 (312) 683-7243, [email protected]
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