Two new research projects co-funded through a partnership between America’s The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), Snowdome Foundation and Leukaemia Foundation will focus on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), seeking to improve understanding and treatment of these blood cancers. Prof. Ravindra Majeti, Stanford University in the US, will join with Assoc. Prof. … Continued
Professor Pimanda is incredibly curious. His observations around why cells behave in certain ways and respond variably to stimuli led him down a cell biology research path. He was particularly drawn to blood stem cell development and maturation and the disruption of this orderly process in blood cancers. In 2008, when John was setting up … Continued
Genetics is complex! At a very basic level we understand that when genes are altered or mutated the end result is a disease. This can take the form of hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia or Huntington’s disease for example. However, gene mutations can also be spontaneous and sometimes result in cancer. … Continued
For the first time, the Snowdome Foundation pivoted its annual Blood Sweat and Tears of Joy educational event from face-to-face to virtual. This increased access and participation, enabling involvement from speakers in the USA, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales! The event showcased the extraordinary depth of blood cancer research and clinician … Continued
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) As of September 1st 2020, patients with relapsed/refractory CLL and SLL considered unsuitable for treatment or retreatment with a purine analogue (a chemotherapy agent) will have access to acalabrutinib. One of the criteria for purine analogue ineligibility is the presence of ‘del17p’ which is a genomic … Continued
Four years ago, if you had a blood cancer in Western Australia (WA) and needed access to the latest treatment via a clinical trial, you had no alternative other than flying to Melbourne or Sydney, every other week. This inequality of care in Western Australia led Snowdome to fund Blood Cancer Research WA. The centre … Continued
Through the funding provided by the Snowdome Foundation Assoc Professor Chan Cheah has been able to ‘make hope real’ for Western Australian blood cancer patients. Blood cancer patients now have access to clinical trials in their home state. That means access to next-generation treatments that are quite often a life line, providing them with more … Continued
Prof Prince provides another useful update on the COVID-19 pandemic. This week he discusses the importance of downloading the government COVID app. The difference between a virus and a bacterial infection, your questions surrounding immunity as a blood cancer patient and resuming scheduled SCT. Lastly he touches on the importance donating to the Snowdome Foundation. … Continued
The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) has given a positive recommendation to Kymriah a CAR T-cell therapy to treat refractory or relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) including transformed, and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). The treatment would cost an individual up to $500,000 but will now be funded by the government. In … Continued