The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has initiated a programme to fund research projects seeking to better understand and, ultimately, stop progression of certain types of blood cancers from early-stage malignancies to much more lethal states of disease.

The types of early-stage blood cancers the programme will focus on are the "myeloid" diseases, such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), both of which can progress to the more deadly acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Janssen Research & Development, LLC is co-sponsoring the programme with LLS, and together the organisations have committed to providing a combined $1.7 million for the initiative. LLS is issuing a request for proposals with the intent of funding research projects at $400,000 each for a period of three years. The grants will be administered as part of LLS's new "Transforming Cures Initiative - Intercepting Progression to Advanced Myeloid Blood Cancers."

"LLS is committed to advancing research to address critical unmet medical needs," said LLS chief scientific officer Lee Greenberger, Ph.D. "The five-year survival rate for acute myeloid leukemia patients remains dismal, at approximately 20 per cent, so any progress we can make to halt early-stage diseases before they progress to AML would be a tremendous advance for patients. Beyond this, the molecule defects in MDS and MPN are beginning to be understood, which leads the way to early intervention with novel therapeutic approaches. We greatly appreciate Janssen's vision in supporting this important initiative."

Researchers who apply for these grants will focus on identifying the molecular drivers that cause progression to leukaemia and/or working toward development of treatment strategies for early interception of the disease.