Eric Mou, MD, clinical assistant professor in Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation has received one of the pilot grants issued this year by the University of Iowa / Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Specialized Program of Research Excellence (UI/MC SPORE). Mou’s Career Enhancement Program grant is for one year and $50,000, allowing him seed funds and time to pursue a specific answer in service of larger questions.
Mou, a relatively recent addition to the department, explains the research:
Exploring Associations Between Follicular Lymphoma and Markers of Primary Immunodeficiency
Follicular lymphoma is a heterogeneous malignancy, the natural course of which ranges from having no impact on an individual’s life expectancy to life-threatening clinical manifestations. It shares a clear link with the immune system, as patients with primary immunodeficiency syndromes have a greatly increased lifetime risk of developing lymphoma. In this study, we will leverage the UI/Mayo Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER) to explore the associations between patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma and markers of immunodeficiency, including primary immunodeficiency-associated germline genetic mutations, low serum immunoglobulin levels, and infectious complications including due to COVID-19. Our goal is to contribute to the identification of distinct subsets of follicular lymphoma in order to better understand their prognostic and therapeutic underpinnings.
For nearly 20 years, investigators at the UI/MC SPORE have advanced our understanding of lymphoma. The funds the National Cancer Institute provides in this collaborative program fuels a variety of activities from basic and population-based research to clinical trials. Last month, we announced that Sabarish Ayyappan, MD, had also received a UI/MC SPORE pilot grant.
Learn more about the UI/MC Lymphoma SPORE: https://cancer.uiowa.edu/lymphoma-spore