With evolving technologies and emerging treatment options, this call is focused on defining subgroups of patients with a given diagnosis, understanding the role and improving detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in hematological malignancies and using this information to guide treatment intervention.  LLS has formed a partnership with Celgene to create the first set of such grants that will build the foundation of this new initiative.

a. General FOCUS: QFC projects should, if successful, have a measurable impact on the diagnosis or treatmetn of patients with hematologic malignancies over the next 5 to 10 years.  Proposals must include specific timelines, milestones and deliverables that researchers believe are achievable with their funding. 

b. Topics: LSS and CELGENE topics available for funding are the following:

1. Defining treatment algorithms that rely on predictive/prognostic biomarkers and molecular MRD surrogates to select standard or experimental therapies for patients with indolent lymphoid malignancies, particularly follicular NHL, or early phase. as well as patients with pre-malignant conditions such as MGUs. low risk MDS or MPNs (PV or ET).  Rsearch proposals might focus on, but are not limited to:

-Identification of biomarkers in both treatment naïve patients, as well as those treated with standard or novel agents, to predict clinical benefic of either a watch and wait strategy or initiation of a therapeutic intervention.

- Idenfitication of biomarkers that will guide specific specific therapeutic intervention with an approved or experimetnal agent(s) or identify a novel therapeutic target.

- Analysis of samples from patients treated with standard or novel agents to identify treatment-related molecular changes that may predict long-term clinical benefit.

- Novel approaches to measure and track MRD that provide actionable information regarding the selection of subsequent therapy, if required.

- New experimental targeted therapies that may be safe and effective in blood cancer patietns with early-stage disease.

2. Characterizing hematopoietic events in the elderly that may predispose them to chronic pre-leukemic myeloid disorders and/or to progression from these states to frank hematologic malignancy.  Proposal topics of interest might include, but are not limited to:

- Studies to determine how age-related changes in hematopoietic progenitor subsets interact with changes in the bone marrow or lymph node microenvironment and in the circulating levels of the cytokines that are commonly/frequently observed in older individuals.

- Identification of the spectrum of mutations, chromatin modifications and/or changes in immune function in elderly patients that identify those at high risk of transitioning from chronic pre-leukemic disorders to acute leukemias.

c. Funding Scheme: The range of funding available is from $200,000 to $400,000 annually, for research to be completed in a period of 2 years.  Additional funding for projects that have demonstrate exceptional progress in the initial 2 years may be available, subject to review by LSS and Celgene.  Regarding the IPR rights, the Innovation Unit (VHIR) will be contacted to analysis each case.

d. Application deadlines:

1. Letter of Intent (LoI): LoIs will summarize the proposed research and indicate which topic is most appropriate.  LOIs will be reviewed for responsiveness to the grant outline, and approved (ore rejected) by LLS staff shortly after the time of submission.

- VHIR's deadline: May 27th, 2014.

- Official's deadline: June 3rd, 2014.

2. Full application:

- VHIR's deadline: July 8th, 2014.

- Official's deadline: July 15th, 2014.

e. More information: HERE