LLS Research Spotlight
LLS Research Spotlight
Welcome to LLS Research Spotlight!
This is your connection to the latest in LLS Research. LLS-funded researchers are making strides toward new therapies and pathways to cures for blood cancers. We're highlighting some of these researchers with detailed summaries of their latest publications and success stories, designed to give you an idea of the latest happenings in blood cancer research.
The LLS Research Spotlight is brand new, but there's plenty more to come! Check back soon or follow us on Twitter @LLSResearch for updates.
Spotlight Articles
Dr. Peter van Galen: CDP Fellow Achievement Award Winner
The winner of the first annual CDP Achievement Award in the Fellow category, along with $10,000 to be used for LLS mission-relevant research, is Dr. Peter van Galen. Dr. van Galen was awarded the LLS Fellow award in 2016 as a postdoc in Dr. Bradley Bernstein’s laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Caregiver Support May Lead To Better Outcomes For Both Patients And Caregivers
It goes without saying that cancer causes a great burden on the patient, but few consider the great burden it causes on the informal caregivers. An informal caregiver, usually a close family member or occasionally a friend, perform a great number of services to the cancer patient.
Dr. Shannon Elf: CDP Special Fellow Achievement Award Winner
Dr. Shannon Elf, rising star in the blood cancer field, is a highly driven and compassionate investigator dedicated to the pursuit of new therapeutic strategies targeting the molecular dependencies of myeloid malignancies.
Coordination of Distinct Pathways Drives AML in a Subset of Patients
Various cellular events may lead to cancer. These include DNA mutations that change a protein’s structure as well as alterations that change the way genes are expressed. A team led by Dr. Abdel-Wahab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recently published research showing a connection between specific mutations and how certain genes are expressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
The First Annual LLS CDP Achievement Award Winners
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has supported junior investigators in blood cancer research for more than 50 years through the Career Development Program (CDP). Many CDP recipients have gone on to become leaders in the field and have greatly contributed to our understanding of blood cancer and its treatment. These contributions can be seen in the impactful publications of our CDP awardees.
Discovery Links Molecular Pathways for Therapeutic Possibilities In MPN
Cancer results from the malfunction or dysregulation of normal cellular processes. The dysregulation of two such processes (or pathways) that are particularly significant for cancer development are epigenetic and metabolic changes.
Sports Analytics Model Adapted to Improve Cancer Outcome Prediction
Outcome prediction is central to the care of cancer patients. Will the patient be symptom-free at some point in the near future or succumb to the disease? Will the patient benefit from a more aggressive or less aggressive therapy? Scientists and clinicians have spent considerable effort to define parameters to predict patient outcomes and the best treatment approaches.
Genotyping of Transcriptomes: A Breakthrough Technology in Single-Cell Analysis
Though a patient’s cancer is treated as a single disease, it is made up of a diverse collection of cells that are related but may have distinct characteristics. When mutations occur in cells and are passed down to daughter cells, new subclonal populations are created in the bulk cancer population. Each subclonal population has a distinct mutational profile.
Age-Related AML Risk: An Exploration of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Epigenetics
The population of elderly people is increasing both in the United States and worldwide, and this increase presents challenges in addressing the medical risk factors associated with aging, including an increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Evolutionary Behavior in CLL: Implications for Personalized Therapy
In recent years, there has been a rapid surge in the amount of genomic information available to researchers. This information enhances the understanding of human disease and provides the fuel needed to achieve personalized medicine.