Internationally acclaimed José Carreras was diagnosed with acute leukemia in 1987.  He received a life-saving bone marrow transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.  His treatment was considered somewhat experimental at the time.  After he returned home to Barcelona, he created the José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation to continue the kind of cutting-edge research that made his treatment possible.

The Friends of José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation, an U.S.-based affiliate organization, was created in 1990.  Our goals are to prevent, treat and cure leukemia and related disorders by providing funding for medical research; and to cooperate on a national level to recruit volunteer marrow donors.  Each year we award a research fellowship of $50,000 per year for three years.  The competition is international in scope, and is intended for investigators early in their research careers. The winner is selected by our scientific advisory board, chaired by 1990 Nobel Laureate E. Donnall Thomas.

In addition to grants for three-year fellowships, we help fund scholarships awarded through the American Society of Hematology.  This year we are awarding a total of $190,000 in the hope of curing leukemia.  The research we fund, because of its molecular nature, has far-reaching implications, affecting treatment of diseases such as HIV and breast cancer as well as leukemia.

"The Friends" are proud to maintain a low overhead, allowing more than 90% of contributed funds to go directly to fellowship programs (or savings for future disbursement).  The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center donates our office space, and we employ only one part-time paid staff member.