HCL2030: Expanding Research to Better Characterize HCL, Develop New Therapies and Optimize Outcomes for Patients
The Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation and Blood Cancer United have partnered to accelerate a cure and improve quality of life for patients with HCL and HCLv and their families. We have announced six research grants as part of the HCL2030 research initiative.
Christopher Oakes, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Harnessing the Epigenome to Advance the Classification and Understanding of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Hairy Cell Leukemia Variant
Dr. Oakes is finding ways to advance understanding and classification of HCL in individual patients, the first step in ensuring they get the right treatment.
Gregory Abel, M.D., M.P.H., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Quality of Life and Patient Outcomes
Dr. Abel is examining quality of life, decision-making and outcomes for patients with hairy cell leukemia.
Gerlinde Wernig, M.D., Stanford University
Identifying Prognostic Markers of Relapse in Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) and HCL Variant by Profiling Mutant Blood Stem Cells and Fibrosis Pathways
Dr. Wernig is finding new methods to improve disease prognosis, including understanding factors leading to relapse and development of variant disease.
Reshmi Parameswaran, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Understanding the drug resistance mechanism and developing novel therapeutic strategies for HCL variant
Dr. Parameswaran is examining how HCL becomes resistant to treatment and developing new treatment strategies for its variant form.
Enrico Tiacci, M.D., University of Perugia
BRAF and BCL-2 Co-Inhibition with Vemurafenib and Venetoclax as a Rational, Short, All-Oral Targeted Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory HCL
Dr. Tiacci will be testing a combination all-oral treatment for patients whose HCL has relapsed. This is a continuation of his groundbreaking work, also supported by research funds from this partnership, that established a drug called vemurafenib as an alternative to chemotherapy-based standard of care.
Francesco Forconi, M.D., Ph.D., University of Southhampton
A Phase 2 Single-Arm Study of BCL-2 Inhibitor Sonrotoclax in Combination with BTK Inhibitor Zanubrutinib in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory HCL
Dr. Forconi is testing whether treatment with a combination of two drugs that inhibit different proteins involved in HCL can lead to deep, long-lasting remissions that would allow patients to stop treatment after a fixed period and remain in remission instead of having to take treatment indefinitely.