Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

A Canadian Leader in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Multidisciplinary Research

Then and Now: The Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia translational research program is the first CLL-focused multidisciplinary team at CancerCare Manitoba and in Canada.

The Manitoba Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) translational research program is a forerunner in CancerCare Manitoba’s commitment to research-driven evidence-based high-quality care for Manitobans. The CLL multidisciplinary research and clinical team serves as a guiding model for other cancer research clusters, particularly in other hematologic malignancies, incorporating basic scientists, clinicians, and epidemiologists to improve outcomes for Manitobans and Canadians suffering from cancer. The innovative CLL team focuses on patients with one of the most common but incurable forms of leukemia. Current research priorities include understanding the biology of CLL, overcoming drug resistance, and examining new treatments through clinical trials and health outcomes.

Dr. James Johnston, a hematologist at CCMB and clinician scientist at the Institute and Professor and Senior Scientist at the Institute, and Dr. Spencer Gibson were instrumental in providing leadership and creating the CLL Translational Research Program. Together they established the foundation to build and grow this successful program with funding support from our Foundation, the provincial government, industry partners and various national grant-funding agencies. Through its successes, this distinctive program continues to evolve and grow with the addition of the next generation of CLL researchers: Drs. Versha Banerji, clinician scientist, Sachin Katyal, senior scientist at the Institute, and Lin Yang, Clinic Lead and hematologist.

Manitoba is taking a national leadership role in CLL, consolidated through this translational research team. By attracting and collaborating with other members including, Drs. Aaron Marshall, Kathleen Decker and David Dawe, this long-standing CLL translational research program combines fundamental and clinical research themes which now integrate epidemiology, health services, clinical, and basic science to improve patient care. Manitoba is uniquely positioned with a population-based centralized clinic, provincial database, and population-based recruitment to the CLL biobank which all contribute to the research success. Together, their collective mission is to improve the care and outcome of patients with CLL.

There is also a long-standing collaboration internationally with CLL researchers across the United States and Canada. Through these collaborations, a founded-in-Manitoba Canadian CLL Research Meeting is held annually, bringing expert CLL researchers from other leading CLL centres to Manitoba. With this transformational growth already underway, Manitoba is the centrepiece of an emerging research consortium that includes researchers and clinicians within Alberta, and British Columbia and a growing Pan-Canadian effort.