Where Are They Now? Jamie Flerlage, MD, MS

When did you become interested in the study of medicine? In lymphoma specifically?

After realizing in high school that only 1% of astronauts went to space, I shifted my love for science to medicine. I became further interested in medicine after my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. I watched the way his oncologist treated him as a person, not just a patient, and the way he involved our incredibly large family. While challenging, I loved the deep bond between a family and their physician that occurred from the moment they met. This passion for oncology continued, and when I was in medical school, I was able to work with Dr. Jennifer Pearce. Dr. Pearce is an extraordinary pediatric oncologist who inspires me every day. She is one of several physicians who I will always strive to be like.

I went to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for fellowship to pursue a career in international oncology. During my time there, I learned the global applicability of lymphoma research, given how curable the disease is, and established a research career with a focus on Hodgkin lymphoma.

Why were you particularly interested in pediatric oncology?

I have always loved working with children. From the time I was young, my mother worked as a certified occupational therapy assistant and treated children with disabilities. I learned the resilience of children and the way they can overcome impossible situations and come out stronger. They have always had a place in my heart.

At what point in your career did you receive funding from the Lymphoma Research Foundation? What kind of grant(s) did you receive?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have exceptional mentors in my life. I will never forget when Dr. Kara Kelly, an extraordinary physician, mentor, and human, suggested I apply for the Lymphoma Research Foundation Scientific Research Mentoring Program (LSRMP). At the time, I was looking to study a rare subtype of lymphoma called nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. The project was in its infancy and the LSRMP program changed my life and career.

What scientific project did you pursue as part of your research grant(s)?

I planned to open a global clinical trial for pediatric nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), and I left the program with a global consortium for both pediatric and adult NLPHL. The consortium’s goal was to study it retrospectively and then to utilize that information to inform a global frontline clinical trial with a career-long trajectory.

How has the treatment landscape for lymphoma/CLL changed since you first started conducting your research?

New drugs continue to emerge that are efficacious in the treatment of lymphoma. The goal is to continue to find the right combination of these medications to cure patients with less late effects.

Was the support and grant funding you received from the Foundation vital to advancing/ dedicating your career to studying lymphoma?

My LSRMP grant was everything for me. It was a chance to discuss my ideas with world experts and completely change the scope of my project from just that, a project, into a lifelong career-defining project. The faculty leading the mentoring program invested not just their time but also their energy and expertise into each one of us, and it was hands down the most pivotal week of my career. I returned from maternity leave early and attended the program with my 8-week-old baby – and it was amazing.

Why is there such a great need for adolescent and young adult (AYA)/pediatric research? Why is a greater investment needed?

There are many reasons there is such a need for AYA/pediatric research, given that this is the most common cancer in this age group. Beyond that, this is a very challenging time in life to make major decisions while trying to attend school, start a career, etc. Insurance and access to medical care is shifting around this time, and this group needs extra attention and focus.

More than all of this, pediatric and AYA patients are young with a long life ahead of them. For a very curable diagnosis, it is essential to treat them with therapy that will be both efficacious and minimize late effects of therapy to ensure they live both a long and healthy life. As new drugs arrive on the market, they need to be applied to this population if we are certain they will not have increased toxicity compared to our known standards of care, as we have been able to cure this disease for years and there are many great treatment regimens.

Can you tell us about the GLOW consortium? How has the Foundation helped support that?

GLOW is the Global Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant One Working Group. (Glowconsortium.org). We are a group that I cofounded with Michael Binkley, a radiation oncologist from Stanford University. We have grown into a formal consortium with over 140 researchers from 26 countries and counting. I am so thankful for this group of dedicated researchers who have come together to research this rare disease.

How has your involvement with the Foundation evolved since being a Scholar?

From Day 1 I was so thankful to become part of the Lymphoma Research Foundation family. Since that time I have also received a Career Development Award from the Foundation to continue to support my work on this effort.

Why is the Foundation’s mission and focus on lymphoma-specific research and programming important? Put another way: How would the lymphoma community be impacted if there was no Lymphoma Research Foundation?

The Lymphoma Research Foundation is incredibly important to the field of lymphoma to help advance research and science while educating and connecting patients and families to factual information and resources. As we learn about lymphoma we must also provide education to help treat each patient today the best we can, and the helpline is an exceptional resource for patients and families. In addition, the mentoring program is investing in and supporting young investigators to ensure robust research continues each and every day.

What research or projects are you currently pursuing that you would like to share with
our readers?

Currently, I am working on finding ways to cure lymphoma “better” by achieving the same cure rates with less late effects of therapy. Additionally, I am looking at ways to increase diagnostic capabilities for lymphoma in places around the world with limited resources.

What is the most exciting thing happening in AYA/pediatric lymphoma research right now? What are you most excited about in the field of lymphoma research in general? Why?

New technologies continue to emerge that allow us to better understand the microenvironment of Hodgkin lymphoma, which is incredibly exciting. Given that only 1%-2% of the cells in a Hodgkin lymphoma tumor are the “cancer” cells, there is a large inflammatory component to the disease. The more we can learn about the tumors with novel techniques, the more we can learn how else to treat it!