Mantle Cell Lymphoma Alliance Announces Inaugural Scientific Advisory Board
The Mantle Cell Lymphoma Alliance (MCLA) is proud to announce the formation of its inaugural Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), a group of internationally recognized physicians and researchers dedicated to advancing progress in the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The establishment of the SAB marks a major milestone for the organization and reinforces the MCLA’s commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing the search for a cure.
The Scientific Advisory Board will be chaired by Dr. Tycel Phillips of City of Hope National Medical Center, a nationally recognized lymphoma expert and leading voice in mantle cell lymphoma research and clinical care. Dr. Phillips played an important role in shaping and launching the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Alliance. Under his leadership, the Scientific Advisory Board will help guide MCLA’s scientific priorities, advise on educational initiatives, identify promising research and grant funding opportunities, and ensure that the organization’s programs reflect the latest advances in MCL treatment.
“Mantle Cell Lymphoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that has long been an outlier in the field of non-Hodgkin lymphoma,” said Dr. Phillips. “The SAB for the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Alliance is composed of a group of physicians and scientists dedicated to improving outcomes in MCL and I am looking forward to working with the group to finally achieve a cure in this space. As the initial chair of the committee, I am excited about the potential of the group to transform the lives of those impacted by a diagnosis of MCL.”
A board built for scientific excellence
The caliber of the inaugural Scientific Advisory Board reflects the organization’s commitment to scientific excellence. MCLA assembled this group from premier academic institutions and cancer centers across North America and Europe, bringing together decades of experience in lymphoma research, clinical trial development, pathology, immunology, cellular therapy, and patient care. The board includes internationally recognized leaders whose work has helped define current standards of care and driven significant advances in mantle cell lymphoma over the past two decades.
The inaugural Scientific Advisory Board includes:
- Tycel Phillips MD — City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California (Chair)
- Elias Campo MD, PhD — Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spain
- Selina Chen-Kiang PhD — Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
- Martin Dreyling MD — Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Germany
- Toby Eyre MBChB, DipMedEd, MRCP, FRCPath, MD — Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, United Kingdom
- Timothy Fenske MD — Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Program at Methodist Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- Olivier Hermine MD, PhD — Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
- Mats Jerkeman MD, PhD — Lund University Cancer Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
- Anita Kumar MD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
- Yucai Wang MD, PhD — Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Michael E. Williams MD, ScM, FACP — University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
A milestone in a fast-growing organization
The announcement of the inaugural Scientific Advisory Board represents another important milestone in the rapid growth of the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Alliance. Founded in February 2026 by individuals living with mantle cell lymphoma, along with caregivers, MCLA was born out of a shared belief that MCL patients need more—more access to current information; more centralized guidance for navigating an increasingly complex treatment landscape; and even greater research funding for mantle cell lymphoma. The founders recognized these unmet needs within the mantle cell lymphoma landscape and set out to create an organization focused exclusively on addressing them.
In just a short period of time, MCLA has already launched an impressive array of initiatives, including educational resources, regular coverage of major scientific meetings such as ASCO and EHA, a monthly newsletter, educational content explaining emerging therapies and clinical trials, and programs such as MCLA Voices, which elevates the perspectives of patients and caregivers in mantle cell lymphoma care.
What comes next
Yet, this is only the beginning. In the months ahead, MCLA plans to expand its impact through initiatives that support patients throughout their treatment journeys, including AI-powered clinical trial navigation, a mentorship program, in-person advocacy at meetings such as the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, and fundraising to support research into the biology of mantle cell lymphoma.
“By uniting the MCL community around a common cause, MCLA is building momentum toward better treatments, better outcomes, and ultimately a cure,” said Sébastien de Bandt, Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Alliance. “We hope you’ll join us in advancing that mission.”