Mantle Cell Lymphoma Research Initiative II (MCL2)

The Mantle Cell Lymphoma Research Initiative II (MCL2) is a renewed and robust initiative to support targeted research to better understand disease mechanisms, develop more efficacious treatments and improve the outcome for MCL patients. Applications should address both transformative issues in MCL biology and promising new directions in MCL therapy.

Click here to see all our current supported projects tackling mantle cell lymphoma.

Program Description

LLS invites innovative and ambitious proposals that can lead to better treatments and cures for MCL. In particular, the goals of MCL2 are to better understand and develop therapeutic approaches for relapsed MCL. However, novel work focused on early disease intervention or improved risk stratification is of interest. LLS calls for the submission of creative proposals with the potential for high impact in MCL. Applications should address both transformative issues in MCL biology and promising new directions in MCL therapy. 

Key Topics of Interest

• Understanding of the MCL tumor microenvironment and the properties of lymphoma cells responsible for disease relapse
• Identifying the best treatment combinations based on solid preclinical rationale and data
• Understanding and developing novel immunotherapies for MCL that have the potential to cure cancer
• Identification and validation of novel targets in relapsed disease
• Developing treatment approaches that replace cytotoxics with targeted therapies or immunotherapies that retain efficacy while reducing toxicity
• Understanding the basis of resistance to existing and newly emerging therapies
• Developing novel therapeutics, especially to targets that are unique to MCL and have previously been difficult to drug (e.g., transcription factors)
• Developing additional, accurate animal models of the disease for critical testing of drugs
• Developing predictive biomarkers of disease that can be used for early detection, prediction of treatment response, and to identify patients most likely to respond well to different treatments

Grant Funding Mechanisms

LLS is calling for inventive proposals that have the potential for high impact in the field of MCL. Research funding will provide support for two types of grants: Synergistic Team Award (STA) and Translational Grants (TRLs).

How to Apply

• Please refer to the Guidelines & Instructions document above
• Is this your first time applying for an LLS Research grant? You can get started by requesting a new account in the LLS Research Portal by clicking here.
• Applicants must carefully read the program guidelines before beginning their applications.
• See the table below for all the key dates and deadlines:

The above image was originally published in ASH Image Bank. Maryam Asif, Girish Venkataraman and Dan Arber. Mantle cell lymphoma with mantle zone pattern. ASH Image Bank. 2019;62363 © the American Society of Hematology.