Researcher Spotlight: Etienne Leveille, MD

yale university

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death to which therapy-resistant cancer cells have been found to be highly sensitive. Lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), are among the most ferroptosis-sensitive types of tumors, but the reasons for this vulnerability are not yet understood. This represents a weakness within DLBCL cells that may be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Dr. Leveille’s work aims to uncover how the metabolism of DLBCL cells modulates their sensitivity to ferroptosis, with the goal of better understanding B-cell metabolism, ferroptosis vulnerability, and the potential development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat lymphomas.

Dr. Leveille’s interest in lymphoma research arose during his time in medical school at McGill University Faculty of Medicine in Montreal, Canada. Since then, he has aimed to improve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving lymphomas to facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. “My research is first and foremost driven by patients, including those I see in the clinic,” he says. “Beyond the excitement of discovery and making scientific progress, my absolute priority is to ensure that research progress ultimately translates to new therapeutic strategies that improve the outcomes of affected individuals.”

With the support of the Foundation’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant, Dr. Leveille hopes to develop the skills and expertise to establish himself as an independent investigator and pioneer in the field of lymphoma research. “Being a part of the Foundation community allows for unparalleled opportunities to interact with key players in the field of lymphoma, including researchers, co-grantees, patients, advocates, and Foundation leadership,” he explains. He hopes these connections will foster long-term collaborations that better support the advancement of his research and the ability of his work to improve outcomes for lymphoma patients.