MPN Research Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Partner to Spur Innovation in Fibrosis Research
MPN Research Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Partner to Spur Innovation in Fibrosis Research
Chicago and White Plains, New York (PRWEB) January 23, 2012
Applicants for this concept grant program (titled the MF Challenge) will have until April 1, 2012 to submit their proposal for funding in the amount of up to $ 100,000 per grant. The grant review will take place in June 2012 in Chicago.
“Concept grants” are used to identify innovative and novel approaches to an issue. Since the objective is to identify and fund new approaches to this problem, applicants are not required to have preliminary data. Success for a grant is defined as proving an idea is worth pursuing further.
Fibrosis is the formation of excessive fibrous connective tissue in place of healthy tissue. The disease myelofibrosis (one of the myeloproliferative neoplasms) is characterized by fibrosis in the bone marrow. Prognosis for sufferers of myelofibrosis varies. A small proportion of MF patients can transform to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood and bone marrow cancer that progresses rapidly.
MPN Research Foundation President Barbara Van Husen feels that this grant program is timely: “Myelofibrosis is the deadliest of the MPNs, and patients of both polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia have the potential to convert to myelofibrosis. Despite that, we have never received a request for funding based purely on research into fibrosis. We are going to change that with this grant program.”
“LLS takes an aggressive and proactive approach to identifying areas of critical unmet need and funding research in those areas in order to improve the outcomes for patients with particularly urgent diagnoses and myelofibrosis is such an area,” said Richard C. Winneker, LLS senior vice president, research. “LLS looks forward to working with the MPN Research Foundation to meet the challenge for patients with myelofibrosis.”
About The Myeloproliferative Research Foundation
The MPN Research Foundation was started in 2000. Founded by patients, for patients, terms on every research grant are negotiated to maximize the dollars invested in actual research. The Foundation’s esteemed Scientific Advisory Board utilizes a rigorous selection process to ensure donations are allocated to the most innovative research projects. To date, the Foundation has awarded over eight million dollars for MPN research. While the priority remains on funding innovative and accountable MPN research, the mission also includes educating and empowering the MPN community.
MPN Research Foundation
180 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1870
Chicago, IL 60601
Office: 312-683-7249
Fax: 312-332-0840
http://www.mpnresearchfoundation.org
Twitter: @MPN_RF
Blog: http://www.mpnrf.blogspot.com
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit http://www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. http://www.lls.org. Media contact: Andrea Greif, (914) 821-8958, andrea.greif(at)lls(dot)org.
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