Newcastle University involved in £34.7m blood disorder project

Newcastle University embark on a project on blood disorders Credit: Paul Zinken

A new £34.7m project involving Newcastle University experts aims to create better outcomes for patients with blood disorders.

The scheme, involving scientists from the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, will pull together anonymous patient data to unlock valuable knowledge of life-threatening blood disorders.

Consisting of 51 partners from 11 European countries, the HARMONY project will focus on:

  • multiple myeloma;

  • acute myeloid leukemia;

  • acute lymphoblastic leukemia;

  • chronic lymphocytic leukemia;

  • non-Hodgkins lymphoma;

  • myelodysplastic syndromes;

  • blood disorders in infants, children and adults.

The project will build on pre-existing, long-lasting collaborations between academics, clinicians, patient organisations and the pharmaceutical industry.

The research is aimed to further advance management of blood disorder diseases through a more efficient process of treatment development and rapid decision-making.

The expected outcome of the European collaboration will be better prognosis and quicker improved treatment decisions for patients.

Anthony Moorman, professor of genetic epidemiology at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, is leading the childhood leukaemia part of the project.

The five-year project will start in January and is funded through the Innovative Medicines Initiative, an initiative that aims to speed up the development of better and safer medicines for patients.