University of Leeds

Leeds is a Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Centre of Excellence.

We are currently investing £3.1 million into research at this centre.

We are also investing in groundbreaking research in York, which is part of the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Yorkshire Centre of Excellence. Find out more about all our Centres of Excellence.

Our scientists in Leeds are researching new treatments and improvements in diagnosis for patients with leukaemia and myeloma. Our researchers at University of Leeds work with doctors at St James’ University Hospital to ensure that breakthroughs in treatments benefit patients with blood cancers across the UK.

Understanding myeloma

Around 3,300 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK every year.

Dr Gordon Cook at University of Leeds is researching how myeloma cells interact with cells in the immune system, which are designed to fight infection and keep us healthy. It seems that the cancer cells send out chemical signals that protect them from destruction.

This research will investigate ways of breaking this defence, so that better and more effective treatments for this incurable blood cancer can be developed.

Targeted treatments for leukaemia

New, less toxic treatments are desperately needed for many forms of blood cancer, especially to treat patients who cannot tolerate conventional chemotherapy.

Professor Terry Rabbitts at University of Leeds is creating sophisticated laboratory models to look for genes and proteins that can be targeted with new and less toxic drugs for patients with leukaemia.

Professor Connie Bonifer has long-term Specialist Programme funding from Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to investigate what goes wrong in cells to cause the genetic mutations responsible for leukaemia.

Professor Bonifer is using state of the art technology to unravel new targets that can be used to better treat and diagnose adults with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Dr Jenny Barton at University of Leeds is also investigating new treatments for adults with AML. This research is interested in small molecules called RNA, which help to translate the genetic code into viable blood cells. Dr Barton aims to develop ways of interfering with RNAs to prevent leukaemia cells from being developed.