A new era of funding for blood cancer research
We’re thrilled to introduce the Transformational Research Awards. These awards, worth £4.9million in total, are a major step forward in our mission to fund pioneering research to transform blood cancer treatment.
Putting people with blood cancer at the centre of research
It’s the first time in several years that as a charity who represents the blood cancer community, we have been able to fund clinical research at this scale. This puts people with blood cancer at the centre of research.
Thanks to fundraising from our supporters, we‘re proud to fund five ambitious projects. These represent a total of £4.9million of funding, the largest amount we have invested in a single scheme for over a decade.
This funding reflects our commitment to increasing our research investment in the coming years, all with the goal of accelerating breakthroughs in blood cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The only way we will beat blood cancer is through research.
Through funding schemes like the Transformational Research Awards we have the potential to unlock new and better treatments, bringing hope to the 280,000 people living with blood cancer.
Why is this important?
"Research plays a critical role in the development of new treatments and the improvement of existing therapies for people with blood cancer."
"At Blood Cancer UK, our aim is to fund ground-breaking research that will help find treatments that are not only more effective but also kinder, with less side effects. The Transformational Research Awards are helping us to do this. Researchers have the opportunity to conduct research that will truly transform the lives of people with blood cancer."
Dr Richard Francis, Deputy Director of Research at Blood Cancer UK
Our five new research projects
The five ambitious projects that are transforming the future of blood cancer research.
Project 1: Revolutionising stem cell transplants
Professor Wynn and his team are pushing the boundaries, developing and testing a new type of stem cell transplant for people with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This new treatment offers new hope for many young adults with AML who were previously told there were no further treatment options available.
Find out more about Professor Wynn’s project 🔎
Project 2: Innovative drug combinations
Professor Fox and his team are trialling a new drug combination to treat Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL). They hope these will lead to new and better treatments for this rare and aggressive blood cancer.
Find out more about Professor Fox’s project 🔎
Project 3: Transforming treatment for myeloma
Dr Charlotte Graham and her team are harnessing the power of our immune system, testing a new type of CAR-T cell therapy to find a new way of treating myeloma. This project holds the potential to transform treatment approaches, creating a potentially live-saving treatment for people with this disease.
Find out more about Dr Graham’s project 🔎
Project 4: At-Home Treatment Revolution
Professor Steven Knapper and his team are testing a new treatment for acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). This involves taking as a tablet at home instead of travelling to hospital for appointments to receive infusions. This research holds the power to provide a much better way for managing and treating the disease, greatly improving the lives of people living with this form of blood cancer, whilst also saving the NHS valuable money.
Find out more about Professor Knapper’s project 🔎
Project 5: Enhancing myeloma care with NHS data
Professor David Cairns wants to find a way to use data already collected in the NHS’s electronic health records to understand how well treatments work in the long-term. This research will revolutionise how data is used, helping those with myeloma to quickly find new and effective treatments.
Find out more about Professor Cairns' project 🔎
Thanks to your support
This research wouldn’t be possible without your support.
We look forward to sharing more updates about the exciting research we are funding with you!
Together we have one mission, to beat blood cancer.