Oxford CLL Funding Gets £9.24m From Haslams for Blood Cancer, Oxford 2026

Key Points

• The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre received a share of £9.24 million (equivalent to $12.5 million) in funding for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) research
• Philanthropists Susan ‘Dee’ Haslam and her husband Jimmy Haslam provided the transformational donation, split between Oxford and Ohio’s Seidman Cancer Centre
• Dee Haslam was diagnosed with CLL in 2021, making this a personal mission for the Cleveland Browns co-owner
• The Oxford-Harrington centre is a transatlantic collaboration between University of Oxford and Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Cleveland
• The centre has devised 214 medicines since 2012 for rare diseases with limited or no existing therapies
• Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, Chair of the Oxford-Harrington Advisory Council, praised the international collaboration
• CLL affects approximately 3,800 people annually in the UK (10 cases per day) and around 60 cases per day in the US
• The funding will push new therapeutics into clinical trials for this rare blood cancer with no current cure
• $10 million of the donation goes to Oxford-Harrington for CLL research and drug development, while $2.5 million benefits UH Seidman Cancer Center
• The Seidman Cancer Center portion will establish an endowed chair in CLL research and an innovation fund

Oxford(Oxford Daily)May 30, 2026 — The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre has received a share of a £9.24 million investment for their research into chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), marking a transformative moment for rare blood cancer research across the Atlantic. The donation, split with the University of Ohio’s Seidman Cancer Centre, was given by philanthropists Susan ‘Dee’ Haslam, who was diagnosed with CLL in 2021, and her husband, Jimmy Haslam.

How Much Money Did the Haslams Donate and Where Will It Go?

As reported by the PR Newswire on May 6, 2026, the Haslams’ newest commitment includes $10 million to accelerate research and drug development focused on CLL and related blood cancers via the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre. An additional $2.5 million will benefit UH Seidman Cancer Center, establishing an endowed chair in CLL research as well as an innovation fund to drive advancements in care. The total donation of $12.5 million (equivalent to £9.24 million) represents one of the most significant philanthropic investments in rare blood cancer research.

Why Is Dee Haslam’s Personal Battle With CLL Driving This Major Donation?

As reported by Rachel Callard of Cherwell, Ms Haslam said, “We hope to increase knowledge of CLL, generate new treatments and give others the confidence and information they need to navigate the disease”. In a separate statement reported by PR Newswire, Dee Haslam said, “I am extremely grateful that I am living a full, healthy life after being diagnosed with CLL in 2021”. The Cleveland Browns co-owner’s personal experience with the disease has fuelled her commitment to finding better treatments for others facing the same diagnosis.

As reported by AP News through MyFox28 Columbus, Dee Haslam continued, “Together with UH Seidman Cancer Center and the Oxford-Harrington Centre, we hope to increase knowledge of CLL, generate new treatments and give others the confidence and information they need to navigate the disease. Ideally, cures for other blood disorders will be discovered in the process”.

What Role Does David Cameron Play in the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre?

As reported by Cherwell, David Cameron, former British Prime Minister and Chair of the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre Advisory Council, said in a statement: “I am delighted to see this generous support, which can help unlock meaningful advances in areas long overlooked and urgently in need of attention”. Cameron continued, “This investment highlights the importance of international collaboration in accelerating progress for people affected by rare conditions”.

As reported by the Harrington Discovery Institute on September 10, 2025, Lord Cameron said when he joined the centre: “Of the causes I have advocated, this one is personal. The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre brings together the very best of academia, life sciences, philanthropy, and industry to deliver hope for millions worldwide living with rare diseases”. He added, “Progress at the scale we need will only happen if philanthropy and investment step forward boldly”.

How Does the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre Operate Across Two Continents?

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre functions as a transatlantic collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Harrington Disease Institute, one of the University of Ohio’s teaching and research hospitals. The centre focuses on formulating treatments and cures for rare diseases, and has devised 214 medicines since 2012. As reported by the Harrington Discovery Institute, the centre funds researchers across three countries with a singular goal — creating medicines for patients who currently have few or no options.

As reported by University Hospitals’ news release on October 14, 2024, Lord Cameron will lead international efforts to drive the OHC’s mission of delivering 40 new therapies for rare diseases into clinical trials over the next ten years.

What Is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and How Many People Does It Affect?

A rare type of blood cancer, CLL is a slow-moving disease that typically impacts blood and bone marrow. Abnormal white blood cells develop within the marrow, impacting its ability to make healthy blood cells. Often these abnormal cells move into the blood stream, and build up in the lymph nodes and spleen.

According to Cancer Research UK statistics reported on August 23, 2023, there are around 3,800 new chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cases in the UK every year, that’s 10 every day. As reported by Cherwell, there are around 10 cases of CLL diagnosed in the UK every day, and around 60 a day in the US. According to GlobalGenes reported on May 6, 2026, the Cleveland Browns owners’ donation aims to advance blood cancer research affecting thousands globally.

Why Is There No Cure for CLL and What Treatments Currently Exist?

Scientists are uncertain as to the cause of the cancer, but many have theorised that there is some hereditary element. Whilst there is currently no cure, symptoms can be managed through treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted medicines, radiotherapy, and sometimes surgery. According to the SEER database updated in 2025, the age-adjusted incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia was 4.6 per 100,000 inhabitants per year.

As reported by Cherwell, the donation will provide the funding to push new therapeutics into clinical trials. This represents a critical step forward, as the Oxford-Harrington centre is dedicated to creating breakthrough medicines for rare conditions with limited or no existing therapies.

How Will This Funding Accelerate Drug Development for Rare Blood Cancers?

The Haslams’ $10 million commitment to the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre is specifically aimed at accelerating research and drug development focused on CLL and related blood cancers. The centre’s track record of devising 214 medicines since 2012 demonstrates its capacity to translate research into potential treatments. As reported by GlobalBusiness Journalism, the donation represents a transformational investment that will fuel research and drug development for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The $2.5 million directed to University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center will establish both an endowed chair in CLL research and an innovation fund, creating sustainable infrastructure for ongoing research. This dual approach — funding both the Oxford-Harrington centre and the Seidman Cancer Center — ensures that research continues on both sides of the Atlantic.

Background of the CLL Research Funding Development

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre was established as a partnership between the University of Oxford, UK, and Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio, US. The centre announced David Cameron as Chair of its Advisory Council on September 10, 2025, bringing the former British Prime Minister’s expertise to lead international efforts for rare disease research. Cameron joined the centre with the stated mission of delivering 40 new therapies for rare diseases into clinical trials over the next decade.

Dee Haslam’s diagnosis with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2021 marked a turning point in her philanthropic focus. As co-owner of the Cleveland Browns alongside her husband Jimmy, she has access to significant resources, but her personal connection to CLL transformed her approach to giving. The Haslams had previously supported various causes, but their $12.5 million commitment represents their largest single donation focused on blood cancer research.

University Hospitals Cleveland had been seeking major philanthropic support to expand their CLL research capabilities, and the Haslam donation arrived at a critical time when drug development for rare diseases requires substantial sustained investment. The partnership between Oxford and Harrington represents one of the most significant transatlantic collaborations in rare disease research, with the centre already having demonstrated success in medicine development.

The timing of the announcement in May 2026 coincides with increasing global awareness of rare diseases and the unique challenges they present. Rare diseases collectively affect millions worldwide, but individual conditions like CLL often lack sufficient research funding due to their smaller patient populations.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect CLL Patients and Their Families

This funding announcement will directly affect the approximately 3,800 people newly diagnosed with CLL each year in the UK and the roughly 21,900 people diagnosed annually in the US. For patients currently living with CLL, the acceleration of new therapeutics into clinical trials means potential access to more effective treatments within the next 3-5 years.

Patients and families navigating a CLL diagnosis will benefit from increased knowledge generation about the disease, as Dee Haslam specifically stated the goal includes giving others “the confidence and information they need to navigate the disease”. This is particularly important given that scientists remain uncertain about the cause of CLL, leaving many patients without clear answers about risk factors or prevention.

The establishment of an endowed chair in CLL research at UH Seidman Cancer Center will create long-term research capacity that benefits patients for decades. This means future generations of CLL patients will have access to researchers dedicated specifically to their condition, rather than researchers who must divide attention among multiple cancers.

For the broader rare disease community, this successful public-private partnership model demonstrates how philanthropy can fill critical gaps in research funding. The centre’s goal of delivering 40 new therapies for rare diseases into clinical trials over ten years suggests that patients with other rare conditions may benefit from the infrastructure and expertise developed through this CLL-focused investment.

The international collaboration between Oxford and Ohio sets a precedent for cross-border research partnerships that can accelerate progress. Patients in both the UK and US will benefit from shared data, coordinated clinical trials, and combined expertise that would be impossible for either institution to achieve alone.

However, patients should understand that drug development timelines remain lengthy, and clinical trial participation may not be immediately available to all. The current treatments, chemotherapy, targeted medicines, radiotherapy, and sometimes surgery, will remain the standard of care while new therapeutics progress through regulatory approval processes.

The committed funding provides stability for researchers, reducing the uncertainty that often disrupts long-term research projects. This stability increases the likelihood that promising treatments will reach completion rather than being abandoned due to funding shortfalls, ultimately benefiting patients waiting for better therapeutic options.