More funding announced for vital leukaemia research

Cure Leukaemia is proud to announce its official funding and support for the TP53 Initiative, a groundbreaking clinical collaboration, registry database and biobanking initiative designed to transform outcomes for patients with TP53-mutated myeloid malignancies who are eligible for stem cell transplantation. The Cure Leukaemia funding will directly contribute to the formation of the TP53 Registry.

Led by Chief Investigator Dr. Mili Shah at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the initiative targets a patient group, those with TP53-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) or Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), who have seen very little progress in drug therapy for over three decades.

The TP53 Registry is a prospective clinical database that will systematically collect data not just on patients recruited to the initiative-e but all patients with TP53 mutations. With the support of the IMPACT and the AML Research Network, the registry will be delivered across centres within the UK- with a future view to expanding internationally, providing a robust infrastructure for clinical insight.

“The TP53 Initiative is a vital step forward for a patient group that has historically had very poor outcomes,” said Dr. Mili Shah. “It has been a crucial collaborative effort from clinicians across the UK and the world to make a difference in this area of unmet need. The TP53 Registry will provide live feedback of vital data for these patients, allowing scope for future clinical studies and research, and important changes in practice by unified evidence based medicine”. The support from Cure Leukaemia has been instrumental in making this registry a reality, providing the foundation we need to improve patient care.”

The initiative is part of an international effort overseen by TP53-I-CONNECT, a collaborative network dedicated to improving outcomes through shared clinical and translational research.

Cure Leukaemia’s funding of the setup and establishment of this registry underscores the charity’s commitment to innovative, data-led initiatives that bring clinical teams closer to a cure.

“This partnership aligns perfectly with Cure Leukaemia’s core mission,” said James McLaughlin, CEO of Cure Leukaemia. “We are committed to helping clinical teams advance data, innovation, and treatments for blood cancer patients. By supporting the TP53 Registry, we are ensuring that researchers have the high-quality data necessary to break the decades-long stalemate in treating these high-risk malignancies.”

Cure Leukaemia was established in 2003 by Professor Charlie Craddock CBE and patients Graham Silk and Michael Woolley to allow patients with blood cancer to access remarkably effective new treatments which were then becoming available.

With a new blood cancer diagnosis every 27 seconds worldwide, Cure Leukaemia funds research nurses and clinical roles at blood cancer centers across the UK, providing patients with access to innovative and potentially life-saving treatments through clinical trials.

Cure Leukaemia is funding world-leading networks that are changing how blood cancer patients – both adults and children – can access cutting-edge treatments through clinical trials.

By supporting these roles, Cure Leukaemia facilitates potentially life-saving advancements in blood cancer therapies, contributing to global progress and hope for those impacted by the disease worldwide.

Thanks to our huge CL Family of dedicated fundraisers, we’ve been able to continue to grow each year and connect more patients to potentially life-saving treatment.