Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Award

Caitlin Keenan, MD, of Tufts Medical Center, is one of the 2026 recepieints of the Shaji Kumar Hematology Research Award. Dr. Keenan received the fellow grant of $25,0000 for her project "Enhancing response to hypomethylating agents in acute myeloid leukemia via folate deprivation" at Binaytara's National Summit on Hematologic Cancers.

Dr. Keenan’s earlier research found that people with acute myeloid leukemia who responded best to a common class of treatment, called hypomethylating agents, tended to have lower levels of folate, a B vitamin, when they started therapy. This project will test in the lab whether lowering folate, or adding methotrexate, a widely used drug that blocks folate, makes these treatments work better. Because these are simple, inexpensive steps, positive results could reach patients quickly, particularly those with TP53-mutated AML, an especially hard-to-treat form of the disease.

"I feel a sense of overwhelming gratitude for the opportunity to proceed with our research project" Dr. Keenan saaid. "We hope that our work translates into improved outcomes for patients with AML, an aggressive blood cancer, by testing a simple and inexpensive strategy to boost the effect of an existing AML medication."

Learn more about Binaytara's Impact Pitch and other funding opportunities.