Program to spur innovation in fibrosis research

Chicago, IL & White Plains, NY – The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) Research Foundation and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) have launched a new concept grant program called the MF Challenge. The program is seeking innovative approaches to reversing fibrosis in patients with myelofibrosis (MF).

Applicants have until April 1 to submit their proposal for funding in the amount of up to $100,000 per grant. The grant review will take place in June in Chicago.

The program is open to applicants worldwide, including Canada.

Concept grants are used to identify innovative and novel approaches to an issue. Since the objective is to identify and fund new approaches to this problem, applicants are not required to have preliminary data. Success for a grant is defined as proving an idea is worth pursuing further.

Fibrosis is the formation of excessive fibrous connective tissue in place of healthy tissue. The disease myelofibrosis (one of the myeloproliferative neoplasms) is characterized by fibrosis in the bone marrow. Prognosis for sufferers of myelofibrosis varies. A small proportion of MF patients can transform to acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer that progresses rapidly.

“Myelofibrosis is the deadliest of the MPNs, and patients of both polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia have the potential to convert to myelofibrosis. Despite that, we have never received a request for funding based purely on research into fibrosis,” says Barbara Van Husen, president of the MPN Research Foundation. “We are going to change that with this grant program.”

The MPN Research Foundation website has more information on the Challenge and how to apply.