World-renowned lymphoma expert Dr. Kieron Dunleavy emphasizes the importance of lymphoma research

Last week, the Chike Springer Foundation kicked off its Veterans Initiative with the Fight Lymphoma Dinner Party. The event was held at the Capitol View at 400 in Washington D.C., and it featured world-renowned lymphoma expert Dr. Kieron Dunleavy.

Dr. Dunleavy, a Lymphoma Research Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board member, spoke about the importance of funding research to help those affected by this terrible disease and underscored how it could ultimately improve patient outcomes. He highlighted the progress made in understanding lymphoma, from diagnosis to treatment, and expressed his gratitude that patients have been able to benefit from recent research. He also discussed why funding is necessary for furthering our knowledge of this disease.

"Lymphoma is, it's about the fifth most common type of cancer. It's a very treatable cancer. I can't tell you how much it's changed over the last ten years because of research. There really has been huge progress. I see this on a daily basis with my patients and often telling them, look, if you were here, five years ago, ten years ago or fifteen years ago, we wouldn't be having this kind of conversation that we're going to cure you. You're going to live now for 30 years because of research and because of partnering with companies, etc...So it's really, really hugely important. And I just can't emphasize that enough."

The funds raised will help support vital lymphoma research and allow researchers like Dr. Dunleavy to continue leading the charge against this deadly disease. We are excited to continue partnering with the Lymphoma Research Foundation and working alongside lymphoma experts like Dr. Dunleavy to achieve our mission to improve treatment outcomes for lymphoma patients and increase diversity in cancer research.

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[Dr. Kieron Dunleavy]: Your organization's really fantastic. So I'm very, very happy to talk for a few minutes.

And just as a background, I’m originally from Ireland and I trained as an oncologist there, and I came to the U.S. to work at the National Cancer Institute. And I got really interested in research there. And, you know, I decided that I wanted to focus on lymphoma research and also see patients as well.

And, you know, just kind of emphasize to you how important research is in what we do. In the US, lymphoma is, it's about the fifth most common type of cancer. It's a, it's a very treatable cancer. And you know, I can't tell you how much it's changed over the last ten years because of research. There really has been huge progress. And, you know, I see this on a daily basis with my patients and often telling them, look, if you were here, you know, five years ago, ten years ago or fifteen years ago, you know, we wouldn't be having this kind of conversation that we're going to cure you. You know, you're going to live now for 30 years because of research and because of partnering with companies, etc...So it's, you know, really, really hugely important. And I just can’t emphasize that enough.

So it's part, you know, I, I work with the Lymphoma Research Foundation, I’m on their Scientific Advisory Board. There are 45 of us who are lymphoma experts from the US and Canada, and a few times a year we, you know, we sit around the table with them and spend hours and hours trying to help them as best we can to figure out what are the most important places to, you know, to fund, to, you know, to put their money towards to really, really make a difference in lymphoma. And the organization particularly has an interest in mentoring young lymphoma investigators, the researchers who are in the lab or in the clinic or doing clinical trials, and, you know, make sure that they're supported, that their ideas are supported, And that at the end of the day, those ideas can really translate into huge differences for patients.

So, you know, having talked to Lyndsay, I've now met her a few times and she you know, she's just an amazing person to head her organization. She has met with all of the key members of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, I mean they're a world-renowned organization, and they know exactly how to do this, but you know I think that for you moving forward and you're as I said, you're exactly the right person to drive your own initiatives with their partnership. And, you know, you can really make a difference because, you know, being around a table with these people and you already understand a lot of what they do and what you really want to do and how you can make a huge difference in memory of your of your husband. And I think that's really amazing.

So, you know, I was I really encourage you to support Lyndsay and to support her foundation. You know, I think it's going to make a huge impact and huge difference, but it's going to require a lot of support from people in all kinds of ways.

So I wish you all the best. And again, thank you for inviting me here.