New Investigator Research Grant Program

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare and challenging blood cancer that often affects older adults and currently has limited treatment options. While existing therapies can temporarily improve blood counts, they do not stop the disease from progressing, leaving patients and families facing ongoing uncertainty. Our research is focused on understanding what truly drives this disease at its roots and finding better ways to treat it. We are studying a promising new therapy, pacritinib, that targets both cancer cells and the inflammatory signals in the body that may help the disease grow. By carefully analyzing patients’ blood and bone marrow over time within a clinical trial, we aim to uncover how the disease changes and how treatment can slow or stop that process. Just as importantly, we hope to develop simple tests that can be used more widely—even outside major cancer centers—to guide care and improve outcomes. Our ultimate goal is to move beyond temporary control and bring patients closer to treatments that truly change the course of their disease, offering more hope and better quality of life for those living with CMML.