When people hear the term "blood cancer," they may think of one single disease. In reality, there are 137 blood cancers, each with its own lived experience for the more than 155,000 individuals currently in treatment or remission in Canada. Dr. Robert Kridel, LLSC Blood Cancer and AI Catalyst Grant recipient, is working to better understand some of the most common forms of blood cancer, in order to help create more personalized care options.

Dr. Kridel, clinician-scientist specializing in lymphoma, was first drawn to study blood cancer when he was in medical school, intrigued by the relationship between the disease and the immune system. “Lymphomas arise from within the immune system itself... there was so much to learn and understand, and that intersection between lymphoma and the immune system creates both challenges and opportunities for treatment," he says.

The two lymphoma subtypes that are central to Dr. Kridel’s research are follicular and Diffuse large B-cell, as they are among the most common forms of the blood cancer. His work focuses on treatment resistance, which remains one of the biggest challenges in blood cancer care, with many individuals relapsing despite medical interventions. Researchers like Dr. Kridel are studying how tumour cells and their surrounding environments help cancers persist despite existing care options. The hope is that better understanding these mechanisms will lead to more effective treatments in the future.

This is where Dr. Kridel’s work comes into play, front and centre. As a recipient of the LLSC Blood Cancer and AI Catalyst Grant, Dr. Robert Kridel is exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can help detect and monitor lymphoma using a simple blood sample. This is revolutionary because it could lead to potentially less invasive methods of detection and monitoring by more easily analyzing complex biological signals, identifying the presence of lymphoma with greater confidence, distinguishing between lymphoma types, and tracking disease progression and treatment response over time.

Personalized care—defined as tailoring medical care to fit a person's unique needs, preferences, genetics, and lifestyle—is becoming increasingly widespread in the medical and research world. With the use of AI and machine learning, medical and cancer care could be adjusted and tailored to each individual based on their unique responses to different treatments. "Hopefully in the future, we could use these tests to guide the therapy, duration of therapy, and intensity of therapy based on the response we see in one specific patient," he says. This could also empower physicians to make more informed treatment decisions in real time. 

But with this exciting momentum in blood cancer research comes the sobering reality of the continuing economic uncertainty around the globe. With ongoing strain on all sectors and industries, research funding is becoming increasingly difficult to secure, while the associated costs continue to rise. Dr. Kridel credits research grants from organizations like the LLSC as a frontline tactic in keeping crucial research underway. “Research funding from the LLSC remains so vital for the blood cancer community, as it helps researchers pursue innovative, higher-risk ideas that may not fit traditional funding models, especially during uncertain economic times,” he says.

There is cause to remain hopeful, though, because for Dr. Robert Kridel, every scientific question ultimately comes back to the individuals and families affected. As researchers gain new tools to understand lymphoma, from liquid biopsies to AI, the goal remains the same: helping people with blood cancer live longer, healthier lives. During Blood Cancer Awareness Month, his work serves as a reminder that research is transforming what's possible for the blood cancer community today while bringing us closer to more personalized care in the future.

"I think treating patients with lymphoma is very gratifying because we certainly do see the results of recent progress, but at the same time it forms the ongoing stimulus to do even better."