Christopher Jensen, MD, MSCR, assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine, received the CLL Society's 2024 Integrative Medicine Award. This research award supports an exceptionally innovative research project that aims to provide an understanding of the mechanistic basis, or clinical outcomes related to the use of integrative medicine therapies, specifically for those living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma. The award is aimed towards exploring ideas that incorporate an integrative approach to addressing the many health challenges of those living with the disease, to help address gaps that exist in current research and build a strong evidence base to improve quality of life for those living with the disease.
Jensen, who is also a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has a special focus on CLL / SLL through the lymphoma program in the Division of Hematology at the UNC School of Medicine. The CLL grant will help towards Jensen's research project, "Combating Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Personalized Supportive Care Program" - a study designed to use qualitative and quantitative approaches to research cancer-related fatigue in CLL / SLL patients with a focus on integrative interventions. Methods within the program will include researchers having CLL / SLL patients describe the fatigue they are experiencing. Researchers will also have a dedicated group at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill that has expertise in turning patient stories into actionable research results. Findings from the study will be used to inform and/or modify treatment approaches for those with CLL / SLL who have cancer-related fatigue.
CLL Society is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated exclusively to funding research for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL / SLL). Since launching the research program in 2022, CLL Society has already committed a total of $1.5 million to CLL / SLL research.
