Research in WM in Canada has been impressive considering our population and the rarity of WM.
The support from the WMFC membership has been generous and impressive. For a small group of Canadians to have extensively funded WM research is something we should all be proud of especially because WMFC receives no Government support.
As a result of research, the life expectancy and quality of life for patients with WM has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. Today many WM patients are living with this disease for more than 25 years. It is not long ago the life expectancy was seven years from diagnosis. Research is making a difference.
The WMFC has supported research from its inception and to date, we have committed to granting over $1.5 Million in research funds.
The research projects are presented to the WMFC Board and a decision on supporting a project or projects is made after hearing the advice from the IWMF Scientific Committee.
Listed below are the research grants that the WMFC has undertaken that are currently active or total committed:
| Date | Amount | Location | Researcher | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-25 | $1,505,326 | Total Research Supported by WMFC | 11 Projects | |
| 2005-07 | $100,000 | Alberta Cancer Board Edmonton | Pilarski | Genetic Characteristics of WM |
| 2009-11 | $99,935 | BC Cancer Agency Vancouver | Nelson | The Immune Response to WM |
| 2014-16 | $163,970 | BC Cancer Agency Vancouver | Nielsen & Nelson | Adoptive T-cell Therapy for WM |
| 2012-15 | $119,295 | Dana Farber Boston | Carrasco | WM Mouse Model |
| 2018-20 | $263,095 | Dana Farber Boston | Carrasco | Continuation of 2012-15 research |
| 2019-20 | $102,610 | Dana Farber Boston | Treon | Epigenomic Roadmap of WM |
| 2019-20 | $96,421 | University Health Network Toronto | Chen and Trudel | Peripheral blood in diagnosis of WM |
| 2020-22 | $260,000 | Dana Farber Boston | Hunter | Multiomic Analysis of DNA, RNA and Epigenomic Networks in WM |
| 2022-24 | $100,000 | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto | Chow | Characterization of genomic alterations in treatment naive patients with WM through a course of targeted treatment and disease progression |
| 2023-25 | $100,000 | Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN | Mondello | Identifying the oncogenic cooperation between IRF4 and MYD88 L265p and their impact on the Tumor Microenvironment of Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia |
| 2023-25 | $100,000 | Dana Farber, Boston MA | Hunter | Characterization of isoform usage, novel isoforms, and tumor evolution in WM |
Our Research Investments over Time
You can follow the progress of one of the WMFC’s most important projects, with Dr. Hunter at Dana Farber:
- In 2018, Dr. Hunter gave a presentation at the Halifax Ed Forum, laying the groundwork for some of his research
- In 2020, Dr. Hunter provided this summary of his research
- Also in 2020, he gave a presentation to an Atlantic Support Group, relating to his research
- In 2022, he provided a written update to us — a short version and a long version. See them both at our post, here.
- And in late 2022, the project published what could well be breakthrough results in the biology of WM. See more at our post, here.
