Northern Ireland’s only charity dedicated to blood cancer research – Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI – has awarded a £360,000 research grant to Queen’s University with the aim of progressing Lymphoma research in Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research (PGJCCR).
Marking the charity’s 60th year, the announcement of a new three-year package of funding will continue to support and build the blood cancer research network in Belfast. It will ensure the recruitment of a research fellow specialising in Lymphoma and a supporting staff who will be based in the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research (PGJCCR).
This new funding further builds on extensive long-term investment in blood cancer research at Queen’s University totalling over £14 million pounds. LLNI currently funds twelve posts and provides core support for the haematological malignancy lab in the PGJCCR.
Speaking on the importance of the investment, Mr Richard Buchanan, Chairman of Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI, said: “Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI is delighted to be able to make this further commitment to blood cancer research at Queen’s University Belfast, particularly during this landmark 60th anniversary year for the charity. Our long term investment into blood cancer research at Queen’s University has seen this work go from strength to strength, attracting world class academics and leading clinicians in the field. Our aim is to enable more patients to survive blood cancers, through supporting this vital and globally linked research into better diagnosis and treatment.
We hope that this investment will further expand and develop the work of the group by attracting a new leader in lymphoma research to join the team in Belfast. “
Teresa Sloan, Head of Health Fundraising at Queen’s, said: “Investing in medical research has an enormous impact in developing new treatments to tackle global diseases and health challenges. Staff at Queen’s have delivered ground-breaking research in a number of areas which requires investment, support and funding.
The ongoing commitment from LLNI to supporting blood cancer research at Queen’s has undoubtedly saved lives and this latest investment, which will fund a research fellow in lymphoma, will strengthen this area of research.”
Lymphoma is the most commonly occurring blood cancer with approximately 14,000 new cases being diagnosed in the UK every year. It can affect patients in any age group but it accounts for 10% of childhood cancers and it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for those under thirty. Survival rates have significantly improved through the years as a direct result of research but more work needs to be done to better understand how these diseases develop, behave and respond to treatment.
LLNI is funding world class research in the Patrick G Johnston Centre with £1.5 million pounds being committed this year alone. If you would like to find out more about the work of the charity or how you can support, please visit llni.co.uk
The charity recently announced a special programme of activities to mark the 60th year of the charity and raise funds for the fight against blood cancer, the programme will culminate with a Black Tie & Diamonds Gala Ball at Titanic Belfast, where the winner of an ongoing raffle for a diamond pendant necklace will be selected at random.
Alongside this, the charity is calling for those who have experienced Leukaemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma and their loved ones to share their experiences online via the LLNI website.
The photos and extended captions gathered will form part of a special online canvas presented online where members of the public can read the stories of people affected by blood cancer across the region.
