The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has announced a $17 million gift from the Mike and Sofia Segal Family Foundation to advance the treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

The largest-ever gift to LLS from an individual donor will fund research to accelerate new treatments of CMML, a rare type of blood cancer that impacts approximately 1,100 people in the United States each year. The only current curative option for the disease is a stem cell transplant, but it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which is not an option for many CMML patients. Existing chemotherapies typically provide only partial response for a limited duration.

The Segals emigrated from present-day Ukraine in 1978. In 1990, Mike founded LS Power. The gift was inspired by the experience of a family member with CMML.

“We partnered with LLS in the hopes of stimulating research and developing treatments for this devastating disease, which has impacted our family and thousands of others,” said Segal. “LLS’ expertise in evaluating and supporting innovative research, combined with our entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy, is the perfect combination to rapidly address the lack of treatment options in this area. We have worked closely together to design a high-impact grant program that we hope will lead to breakthroughs in the near term, and this is just the beginning. Our foundation is now exploring similar potential initiatives focused on other rare diseases.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Chayaporn Yemjuntuek)