Lymphoma Research Foundation Awards 24 Grants to Next Generation of Lymphoma Scientists to Advance Critical Research

Foundation Underscores Commitment to Lymphoma Research with Multi-Million Dollar Investment

The Lymphoma Research Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization devoted to funding innovative lymphoma research and serving the lymphoma community, has awarded 24 new research grants in 2025. These grants, totaling $2.7 million, will support cutting-edge investigations aimed at improving lymphoma diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.

Each year, the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) identifies and funds the most promising lymphoma research projects conducted by leading scientists and early-career investigators from top institutions across the country. The 2025 grantee class encompasses 16 medical and academic institutions, with research initiatives investigating a range of lymphoma subtypes and scientific disciplines including CAR T cell therapy, microenvironment analysis, and treatments for relapsed/refractory patients.

“The research funded through these grants represents the forefront of lymphoma discovery and innovation,” said Ann LaCasce, MD Chair of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board. “These projects have the potential to transform our understanding of the disease and lead to new, more effective treatment strategies for patients.”

Since lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are considered rare diseases, it receives disproportionately less federal and philanthropic funding for research than other types of cancer. The Foundation’s grant program plays a crucial role in accelerating discoveries and fostering the next generation of lymphoma experts. Since its inception 30 years ago, the Foundation has committed more than $82 million to research grants that have led to significant advancements in lymphoma care and treatment options.

“By investing in the brightest minds in lymphoma research, we continue to drive progress toward better treatment options and, ultimately, a cure,” said Meghan Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer of the Lymphoma Research Foundation. “We are honored to support these researchers whose work will bring hope to patients and families affected by lymphoma.”

2025 Grant Recipients  

Clinical Investigator Career Development Award (CDA) 

Jordan Goldstein, MD – Leland Stanford Junior University 

Paola Ghione, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 

Robert Stuver, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant 

Pantaleo De Simone, MD​ – Columbia Medical Center 

Kazuya Fukasawa, PhD​ – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Condon Family Fellow) 

Michelle Lee, MD, PhD – Emory University 

Etienne Leveille, MD​ – Yale University 

Tianfang Ma, PhD​ – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Health Equity Initiative) 

Daniela Magliulo, PhD​ – Weill Cornell Medicine  

Priya Lakra, PhD – MD Anderson Cancer Center (Health Equity Initiative) 

Paurnima Patil, PhD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Oliver W. Press, MD, PhD Memorial Fellow) 

Pierre Stephan, MD, PhD​ – Brigham and Women’s Hospital​

Maria White, PhD – The University of North Carolina 

Lymphoma Clinical Research Mentoring Program 

Clinical Research Scholars

Mengyang Di, MD, PhD​ – University of Washington​ (Runge Lymphoma Project Scholar) 

Eduardo Edelman Saul, MD​ – MD Anderson Cancer Center 

Mallorie Heneghan, MD​ – The University of Utah​ (Paul Walker Schaffel Scholar) 

Jennifer Huang, MD, PhD​ – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center​ (Kanti R. Rai, MD Clinical Scholar) 

Alex Niu, MD​ – Roswell Park Cancer Institute​ (Eric A. Cohen Distinguished Scholar) 

Evelyn Orlando, MD​ – Weill Cornell Medicine​ (Kaine Family Scholar) 

Translational Research Scholars

Casey Bermack, MD, PhD​ – MD Anderson Cancer Center (Stephanie A. Gregory, MD, FACP Distinguished Scholar) 

Andy Bi, MD, PhD​ – University of Nebraska Medical Center​ (Schroeder Family Scholar)

Dustin Mccurry, MD​ – MD Anderson Cancer Center​ (Morton Coleman, MD Innovation Fund Scholar) 

Alexandra Rojek, MD​ – The University of Chicago​ (The Kristie Blum, MD Scholar) 

Herman van Besien, MD​ – Weill Cornell Medicine​

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Profiles of the Foundation’s Clinical Investigator Career Development Award (CDA) and Postdoctoral Fellowship grantees will be in the 2025 Vol. 2 edition of Pulse, and the Lymphoma Research Mentoring Program (LSRMP) Scholars will be featured in the 2025 Vol. 3 edition of Pulse.