Follicular lymphoma (FL), the second most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, poses a significant challenge due to its unpredictable progression. While many cases remain stable and do not require immediate treatment, some patients eventually develop aggressive forms that resist standard therapies. This unpredictability causes concern among both patients and healthcare providers.
To address these challenges, an international group of experts has formed the ERADICATE Follicular Lymphoma consortium. The initiative is led by Dr. Ari Melnick, Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain. The goal is to accelerate advances in understanding and treating FL through the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, therapeutic modeling, experimental therapeutics, and immunology.
The consortium’s five-year project is funded with $6.5 million from Blood Cancer United—the largest non-profit funder for blood cancer research—and the Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation via the Research Accelerator for Follicular Lymphoma Synergistic Team Award.
Dr. Ari Melnick stated: "Appointed Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in April 2025, Dr. Ari Melnick, an internationally recognized expert in hematological cancer research, now spearheads this international alliance against follicular lymphoma. His leadership reinforces the Institute's role as a key global player in blood cancer research and its unwavering commitment to improving the lives of patients and their families."
The ERADICATE consortium brings together teams from institutions across Spain and the United States: Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Broad Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Their collaboration will combine genomics techniques with AI analysis to improve diagnosis and treatment options for FL patients.
Researchers aim to identify high-risk disease earlier and match treatments more precisely to individual patients. They will also focus on finding drug targets using preclinical models and functional screens while advancing biomarker-driven strategies into clinical trials.
Leadership within ERADICATE includes Ari Melnick (Josep Carreras Institute), Wendy Beguelin (NYU), Fei Chen (Broad Institute), Todd Golub (Broad Institute) with Vignesh Shanmugam (Brigham and Women's Hospital), and Michael Green (MD Anderson Cancer Center). Their collective efforts are directed at mapping disease diversity, uncovering mechanisms behind resistance or transformation to aggressive disease forms, and translating findings into practical clinical approaches.
Two scientific hubs will coordinate activities throughout the program’s duration.
