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Massey physician-researcher Victor Yazbeck, M.D., was given a Clinical Investigator Career Development Award from the Lymphoma Research Foundation in March 2017, one of only four such awards given out this year.

“I am humbled and honored to be given this recognition by the Lymphoma Research Foundation. This award allows me to continue devoting my research to improve the outcome of patients with lymphoid malignancies,” said Yazbeck, a hematologist-oncologist and member of the Developmental Therapeutics research program at VCU Massey Cancer Center.

The award is granted to junior investigators who perform high-quality clinical research, and it helps support salary, professional development and research expenses over the course of three years.

With the help of this award, Yazbeck will lead phase 1 and 2 clinical trials studying a chemotherapy-free treatment regimen of rituximab, idelalisib and venetoclax in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults. It results from uncontrolled growth of B-cells in the bone marrow and blood.

Yazbeck, who is also an assistant professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care at the VCU School of Medicine, said that, if the trial is successful, it will present opportunities for similar studies in other B-cell malignancies.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation is the nation’s largest non-profit organization solely dedicated to funding innovative lymphoma research and providing informational resources related to the disease.

Written by: Blake Belden