Impact on Research

LRF Research Grant Programs

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) remains dedicated to finding cures for lymphoma through an aggressively-funded program for researchers.

Since its inception, LRF has made major contributions to the lymphoma research enterprise, awarding more than 450 research grants totaling more than $72 million. The Foundation’s volunteer Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), comprised of 45 world-renowned lymphoma experts, guides the Foundation’s research activities, seeking out the most innovative and promising lymphoma research projects for support.

Our Research Focus

Through its evidence-based research program, LRF aims to:

Advance Understanding of Lymphoma

Advance our understanding of lymphoma, laying the foundation for improved patient care.

Support Early-Career Scientists

Attract and train new investigators and clinicians in lymphoma, ensuring that the best and brightest scientific minds are able to continue their commitment to blood cancer research.

Foster Collaboration

Bring innovative ideas, energy and collaboration to the field of lymphoma research.

MENTORING PROGRAM

Highlighting its commitment to young investigators, the Lymphoma Research Foundation launched the first-of-its-kind lymphoma mentoring program in 2014.  Program participants, known as LRF Scholars, attend and participate in an intensive week-long workshop in which they learn from and network with the Foundation’s renowned Scientific Advisory Board members.  Over the course of the two-year program, LRF Scholars gain the skills needed to successfully design and administer clinical, translational, and/or laboratory research studies, apply for future grant funding, and establish themselves as independent researchers.

LRF Scholars receive an additional grant of $10,000 to support professional development expenses to help advance their lymphoma career.  Participation in LRF’s exclusive mentoring program provides Scholars with a unique experience to learn how to build a successful career in lymphoma research from the best in the field.  As a result, LRF Scholars are often regarded as up and coming leaders in the field of lymphoma research.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

LRF’s unique commitment to young investigators enables the Foundation to support science.  The LRF Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants are designed to support PhD fellows who have completed less than five years of postdoctoral work and MD fellows who have completed two to five years of fellowship work.

Areas of research may include, but are not limited to, etiology, immunology, genetics, therapies and transplantation. Typically, young investigator grants focus on basic science, which paves the way for scientific advancements and discoveries across a wide-range of cancers and diseases. The LRF Postdoctoral Fellowship provides a total of $195,000 to grantees over three years.  These grants from LRF provide the seed money necessary for young investigators, early in their careers, to be able to dedicate their time and talents to studying lymphoma.  Many grantees credit this program with solidifying their careers in lymphoma research. 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD

The LRF Clinical Investigator Career Development Award (CDA) Program provides grants to advanced fellows or junior faculty members to facilitate their transition to independent clinical researchers. CDA grant recipients have the greatest potential to contribute to the development of new lymphoma therapies and diagnostic tools.

The LRF Clinical Investigator Award provides salary support and protected research time to grantees over three years.  Many grantees received their first independent funding from LRF and have since become senior leaders in the field.

DISEASE-FOCUS AREA GRANTS

In addition to early-career researchers, LRF funds faculty-level researchers in areas of lymphoma research that may be understudied or have key issues in need of further investigation. These programs, which fall under the larger designation of Disease Focus-Area Grants, solicit innovative research in specific subtypes and/or patient populations, and may also target certain types of research, including studies on biological pathways, correlative studies from existing clinical trials, and collaborative multi-institution projects.

Through Disease Focus-Area Grants, LRF has supported research in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), as well as research on the adolescent and young adult (AYA) patient population.

Meet Our 2022 Researchers

Roni Shouval, MD, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Clinical Career Development Award

Xiaolong (Alan) Zhou, MD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Clinical Career Development Award

Elise Chong, MD
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine Clinical Career Development Award, Health Equity Initiative

Patrizia Mondello, MD, PhD
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Clinical Career Development Award

Tayla Heavican-Foral, PhD

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant, Dr. Oliver Press Memorial Fellow, Health Equity Initiative

Ivan Cohen, PhD
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant

Clarissa Corinaldesi, PhD
Columbia University
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant, Dr. Bruce D. Cheson Fellow

Antonio Ferreira, PhD
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant, Condon Family Fellow

Huan-Chang Liang, PhD
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant

Patrick Reville, MD
The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant

David Russler-German, MD, PhD
Washington University School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant

Ran Xu, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant, Dr. Oliver Press Memorial Fellow

Stephen Ansell, MD, PhD
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Follicular Lymphoma Priority Research Grant, Peykoff Initiative Investigator

Todd Fehniger, MD, PhD
Washington University School of Medicine
Follicular Lymphoma Priority Research Grant, Peykoff Initiative Investigator

Abner Louissaint, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Follicular Lymphoma Priority Research Grant, Peykoff Initiative Investigator

David Scott, MBCHB, PhD
BC Cancer
Follicular Lymphoma Priority Research Grant, Peykoff Initiative Investigator

Hans Guido Wendel, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Follicular Lymphoma Priority Research Grant, Peykoff Initiative Investigator

FINDING CURES STARTS HERE

25 Years of Innovation & Progress

1995 was a significant year for the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF)—it was then that LRF realized its dual mission to eradicate lymphoma and to serve those touched by this disease.

Finding cures starts here.  Through lymphoma-specific research grants and consortia, LRF-supported researchers have been involved in many of the most significant lymphoma breakthroughs witnessed in the past quarter-century.

RESEARCH NEWS

The Healing Power of Compassion

For Kami Maddocks, MD of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, the bonds she creates with her patients go far beyond the call of duty of a doctor and are the most rewarding aspect of her work.

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