September is recognized in the U.S. as Blood Cancer Awareness Month, a period dedicated to increasing awareness of leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and the broader family of blood cancers, while highlighting research, patient support and the people working toward better treatments. The observance traces back to a 2010 U.S. House resolution recognizing September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
Blood Cancer United — formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — now describes more than 100 types of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms. For 2026, Blood Cancer United carries the message “Together, we can build a future beyond blood cancer.” The organization continues its signature Light The Night campaign each fall, uniting survivors, caregivers, and supporters to raise funds for research, patient support, and advocacy.
The list below spans drug developers, cell and gene therapy startups, manufacturing infrastructure, and academic and federal research labs — different parts of the ecosystem that together move blood cancer treatment forward.
15 Organizations Advancing Blood Cancer Innovation
BioBuzz highlights the researchers, startups, and companies across the Mid-Atlantic and North Carolina turning blood cancer research into real treatments this Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
1. Incyte
Wilmington, DE
Global biopharma behind Jakafi (ruxolitinib), FDA-approved for blood disorders including myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.
2. Legend Biotech
Somerset, NJ
Legend Biotech describes itself as the largest standalone cell therapy company. It is at the forefront of the CAR-T revolution with Carvykti, a CAR-T cell therapy administered as a single infusion for relapsed multiple myeloma, developed with Johnson & Johnson.
3. Interius BioTherapeutics
Philadelphia, PA
An early-stage biotech developing in vivo CAR-T gene therapy for hematologic malignancies. Interius entered a definitive agreement in August 2025 to be acquired by Kite, a Gilead Company, for $350 million, a deal expected to close within 2025.
4. Coriell Institute for Medical Research, The Jian Huang Lab
Camden, NJ
Studies hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and drug resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The lab’s CRISPR-based screening identified SPRY3 and GSK3 as genes associated with resistance to the AML drug Quizartinib, confirmed in primary patient samples.
5. Tong Lab — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Led by Wei Tong, PhD, the lab studies hematopoietic stem cell signaling and genome integrity, with active research into myeloid leukemia and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia drug resistance.
6. Kite, a Gilead Company
Frederick, MD
Kite built a 279,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on 20 acres in Frederick County to produce Yescarta. Kite describes it as part of the world’s largest in-house cell therapy manufacturing network.
7. MacroGenics
Rockville, MD
Biopharma developing bispecific antibodies designed to direct the immune system against cancer cells, including programs targeting hematologic malignancies.
8. MaxCyte
Rockville/Gaithersburg, MD
Nasdaq-listed cell-engineering company. Its Flow Electroporation platform is licensed by biopharma partners to engineer and manufacture CAR-T and other cell therapies.
9. Rose BioSolutions
Rockville, MD
Formed in May 2026 following GI Partners’ acquisition of the CDMO and Cell Solutions businesses from Charles River Laboratories, Rose BioSolutions operates as an independent advanced therapy manufacturer.
10. NCI Center for Cancer Research
Bethesda, MD
The intramural research arm of the National Cancer Institute, with active immunotherapy programs targeting leukemia and lymphoma.
11. Persistence Therapeutics
Chapel Hill, NC
A UNC/NC State spinout developing SynthNode, a dime-sized implantable device designed to function as a synthetic lymph node, aiming to make CAR-T therapy simpler and more durable to manufacture.
12. Meryx
Chapel Hill, NC
A UNC spinout developing orally bioavailable cancer drugs targeting receptor tyrosine kinases. Its lead candidate, MRX-2843, is currently in an actively recruiting Phase 1 trial for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and mixed phenotype acute leukemia.
13. Kang Lab — Duke Blood Cancer Center
Durham, NC
Led by Yubin Kang, MD, the research lab develops new approaches to improve hematopoietic stem cell engraftment following blood and bone marrow transplant. Through Duke Blood Cancer Center, Dr. Kang’s clinical practice treats patients with multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.
14. CARsgen Therapeutics
Durham, NC
Established a North American manufacturing presence in the Research Triangle to support its CAR-T programs targeting leukemia and lymphoma.
15. Cellectis
Raleigh, NC
Manufactures off-the-shelf, allogeneic CAR-T product candidates at its Raleigh IMPACT plant, using TALEN gene-editing technology. Its clinical pipeline includes candidates targeting B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
