The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Awards $1.68 Million To Improve Outcomes For Patients With Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has awarded Anand Jillella, M.D., Chief of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at the Georgia Regents University in Augusta, GA, with $1.68 million in funding from LLS's Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP). Dr. Jillella's proposal entitled "A Simple Patient Care Strategy to Decrease Early Deaths in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)" will be funded over the next five years.

The goal of this project is to reduce the mortality rate in the induction therapy period by educating community oncologists and hematologists with a simple and straightforward treatment algorithm for the care of newly diagnosed patients with APL, a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukemia that affects marrow cells called promyelocytes. The results of the program will be documented as part of a patient registry in APL.

The funding of Dr. Jillella's project is in line with LLS's strategic initiative, which is to speed the development of blood cancer drugs, treatments and supportive diagnostics that have the potential for high impact on the current treatment outcomes for patients with blood cancer, especially in areas of high unmet medical need.

"LLS is eager to support this research project in the hopes that it will lead to a greater understanding of optimal treatment for this rare form of leukemia, and ultimately, improved outcomes for patients with APL especially those that live relatively far from major academic centers," said Richard Winneker, LLS senior vice president of research.

For more on LLS's Therapy Acceleration Program, please visit http://www.lls.org/#/researchershealthcareprofessionals/drugdevelopment/therapyacceleration/.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyThe Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: 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 www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at [phone], Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

Contact: Andrea Greif [e-mail] 914-821-8958

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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