The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Washington/Alaska Chapter Programs
The Society has one patient resource staff member who assist newly-diagnosed patients by providing disease-specific information, educational classes, and peer support such as support groups and "First Connections." "First Connections" is a program that matches up current patients with individuals of similar demographics who've been through diagnosis and treatment for the same condition.
Annually, the Society awards multi-year research grants to the best and brightest scientists from around the world who are working to find cures for blood cancers. This year, 6 local researchers - 5 at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and one researcher at the University of Washington are recipients of over $2 million in research funding. In the past 15 years, 45 local researchers have received over $18 million in research grants from LLS.
The Society provides professional development and continuing education credits for health care professionals such as social workers, nurses, and doctors who work in the field of hematology oncology through classes, seminars and workshops to inform them of the latest research findings, treatment options and disease-specific medical news.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been provided nearly $20 million in research funding to Dr. Carl June and his research team at the University of Pennsylvania.
He and his team have re-engineered HIV virus with patients’ immune systems that can kill cancer cells. Dr. David Porter and Dr. Stephan Grupp are treating the adult and pediatric patients (respectively) in this T-cell immunotherapy clinical program under direction of Dr. June. This work is the result of nearly 20 years of LLS grant funding; showing promise in adult CLL and pediatric ALL patients – Emma was one of the pediatric patients treated. When all else failed and this treatment was her last option. A video of their work and the life-saving impact it has had on Emma can be seen at:
http://vimeo.com/54668275