Our funded research

We are expanding our research programme to ensure new discoveries and breakthroughs reach patients sooner.

We will find and fund the very best blood cancer research projects and exceptional researchers.

At Leukaemia UK we know the importance of funding research, novel cutting-edge projects that promise to expand our understanding of leukaemia, discover and develop new treatments and improve care for the disease. Research has already played a vital role to drive progress in leukaemia diagnosis, treatment and care which has resulted in better survival rates over the past 40 years.

Despite progress, a leukaemia diagnosis still devastates the lives of too many families every year and we want to stop this happening. Leukaemia has one of the lowest survival rates of all blood cancers, and sadly almost 5,000* lives are lost to leukaemia each year in the UK.

Devastatingly, leukaemia is also the most common type of childhood cancer accounting for around a third of all cancers in under 15s.*

We believe that medical research holds the key and we want to ensure we’re exploring as many possibilities as we can to save lives and improve quality of life for leukaemia patients.

*Leukaemia UK annual report 2022

How are our research projects funded?

We are a UK charity, and we wouldn’t be able to continue to fund research into leukaemia and other blood cancers without donations from our supporters. Their generosity enables our medical researchers to discover the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Our research portfolio, past and current projects include funding for potentially high-impact science through project grants, fellowships and scholarships for early careers researchers and the first ever UK clinical trials initiative for stem cell transplants.

View some of our latest and most ground-breaking research projects. From empowering natural killers in our immune system to detecting faulty blood cells before they cause blood cancer. Our research team are already making an impact, thanks to supporters like you.

The RUNX1 effect – the impact of different mutations on AML

The RUNX1 effect – the impact of different mutations on AML

Testing a potential new treatment for AML

Testing a potential new treatment for AML

Can we reshape AML’s microenvironment to save lives?

Can we reshape AML’s microenvironment to save lives?

Disrupting AML’s energy source to find better treatments

Disrupting AML’s energy source to find better treatments

Can the unique differences between stem cells tell us how well CML treatment will work?

Can the unique differences between stem cells tell us how well CML treatment will work?

Can immune cells affect risk of progression in smouldering myeloma?

Can immune cells affect risk of progression in smouldering myeloma?

The road to new immunotherapy for MPN patients

The road to new immunotherapy for MPN patients

Let’s find the off switch for leukaemia

Let’s find the off switch for leukaemia

In pursuit of new treatment combinations for B-ALL

In pursuit of new treatment combinations for B-ALL

Revealing the role of a fusion gene in leukaemia

Revealing the role of a fusion gene in leukaemia

Detecting blood cancer at the earliest opportunity

Detecting blood cancer at the earliest opportunity

Harnessing the natural killers of the immune system

Empowering the natural killers in our immune system

A stepping-stone to improving survival from AML

A stepping-stone to improving survival from AML

Can we stop B cell lymphoma cells evading treatment?

Can we stop B cell lymphoma cells evading treatment?

Targeting the survival tactics of chronic myeloid leukaemia

Targeting the survival tactics of chronic myeloid leukaemia

Unleashing the power of natural killers against CLL

Unleashing the power of natural killers against CLL

A first-of-its-kind new treatment for AML

A first-of-its-kind new treatment for AML

Untangling the complex web of interactions inside AML cells

Untangling the complex web of interactions inside AML cells

Pin-pointing the origins of an aggressive leukaemia

Pin-pointing the origins of an aggressive leukaemia

Can we develop better targeted treatments for AML?

Can we develop better targeted treatments for AML?

Discover more life-changing research

More projects