Overview & Purpose

The Pablove Foundation, in partnership with private family donors, invites innovative, high-impact research proposals to advance the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of pediatric Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL), Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL), and KMT2A-rearranged leukemias.

These aggressive malignancies present significant challenges, including lineage plasticity, resistance to treatment, and poor long-term outcomes in children.

This $50,000, one-year seed grant will support an early-stage pilot study or the generation of critical proof-of-concept data, helping an investigator build the foundation needed to compete for larger grants from national or federal funders.

Research Priorities

We seek novel, standalone research projects with a clear pediatric focus. We especially encourage proposals from early-career investigators and established laboratories exploring unconventional ideas or entering this research area.

Projects of particular interest include:

• Overcoming Treatment Resistance: Investigating mechanisms or novel therapeutic combinations to overcome resistance to targeted therapies, such as menin inhibitors, in pediatric models.
• Lineage Plasticity & Switching: Identifying the epigenetic, genetic, or microenvironmental factors that cause leukemia cells to shift between myeloid and lymphoid lineages under therapeutic pressure.
• Targeted, Low-Toxicity Therapies & Delivery: Developing novel drug delivery systems, such as bone-homing nanoparticles, or immunotherapies designed to target KMT2A-rearranged leukemia cells while minimizing harmful effects on growing children.

Eligibility

• Applicants must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree.
• Applicants must be affiliated with an accredited academic medical center or pediatric research institution.
• Projects must demonstrate a clear focus on pediatric MLL, MPAL, or KMT2A-rearranged leukemias.
• Early-career investigators, including postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty, are encouraged to apply.
• Established laboratories proposing innovative approaches or entering this research area are also welcome.

Budget & Funding Guidelines

Total Award: $50,000 for a 12-month period.

Direct Research Costs: All grant funds must support direct research expenses, such as reagents, sequencing fees, and technician or postdoctoral researcher salaries.

Indirect Costs: Indirect or overhead costs are not permitted. Participating institutions must agree to a 0% indirect cost rate, ensuring that the full award supports the research.

Application Deadline

Proposals are due December 1, 2026.

How to Apply

To apply, please visit ProposalCentral

Thank you!