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 here (ADD LINK FROM EMILY)

Thank you!