Our History

The International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation (iCMLf) was established to address global disparities in outcomes for people living with CML. While breakthroughs in treatment were transforming prognosis in high-income countries, access to these advances remained limited in low- and middle-income settings. Founded in 2009 by a group of pioneering hematologists, the iCMLf has grown into a vital global organisation, uniting the CML community to expand knowledge, strengthen expertise, and advance more equitable outcomes worldwide.

Founding team

Tribute to Professor John Goldman (1938–2013)

The iCMLf owes its existence to the vision and leadership of Professor John Goldman, often referred to as the “godfather of CML.” Professor Goldman was a towering figure in the field of hematology, dedicating his life to understanding and improving treatments for CML. His groundbreaking work included pivotal contributions to the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which revolutionised the management of CML.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Goldman was deeply committed to ensuring that these advancements reached every person with CML, regardless of geographic or economic barriers. He was instrumental in shaping the iCMLf’s mission and served as its first Chair, setting the foundation for a legacy of collaboration, education, and innovation. Following his passing in 2013, the iCMLf created the Goldman Prize. Awarded annually alongside the Rowley Prize, the award celebrates people who have made outstanding contributions to the management of CML. The annual CML meeting held in partnership by the iCMLf and the European School of Hematology (ESH) was also renamed as the ESH-iCMLf John Goldman Conference on CML, honoring his extraordinary contributions to the field and his enduring impact on the global CML community.

Timeline of key milestones

2005

At the Global Opinion Leaders Summit (GOLS) meeting in Athens, Professors. Tim Hughes,  John Goldman, and Jorge Cortes discussed the urgent need to address global inequities in CML care. This conversation sparked the idea for an international foundation.

2009

The iCMLf was formally established under the leadership of Professor Goldman, with founding board members including Dr. Tim Hughes, Dr. Jorge Cortes, Dr. Brian Druker, and Dr. Michele Baccarani. The foundation’s mission was clear: to improve outcomes for CML patients worldwide through collaboration, education, and innovation.

2010-2017

Key programs were launched to address disparities in care. The iCMLf Clinical Preceptorship Program began training hematologists from low and middle income countries at centers of excellence, while the iCMLf Diagnosis and Testing Program supported laboratories in low resourced settings to establish critical diagnostic capabilities.

The Foundation also expanded its initiatives and global reach. Partnerships with patient advocacy groups, including the CML Advocates Network and The Max Foundation, strengthened its impact. Annual scientific meetings, held in collaboration with the European School of Hematology, became a cornerstone for advancing research and collaboration. Awards like the Rowley, Goldman, and iCMLf Prizes were introduced to honor outstanding contributions to CML research and treatment.

2018-2022

The potential for global research collaboration was identified leading to the iCMLf Genomics Alliance and iCMLf Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) Alliance. Both of which aim to deepen scientific understanding and improve clinical outcomes through our international network. In 2019 the iCMLf held the first ‘iCMLf Climb for a Cure’ to support these Alliances.

Despite the challenging COVID-19 pandemic and resulting inability to host in person education programs, the iCMLf adapted to maintain its educational programs online and became a leading resource on the impact of COVID-19 on people with CML. Data from our international COVID-19 registry were presented at international hematology meetings in 2021- 2023. 

2023-Present

The iCMLf has entered a new phase of impact, strengthening its role as a global convener of expertise and a driver of collaborative science. Building on its established programs, the Foundation has expanded Regional Discussion Groups and digital education platforms, enabling continuous, case-based learning and peer-to-peer exchange across low- and middle-income countries.

At the same time, the iCMLf is advancing ambitious international research efforts through the iCMLf Cure Consortium, bringing together leading investigators, data resources, and translational science to accelerate progress toward treatment-free remission and cure. Integration of real-world data, genomics, and global clinical insight is creating a powerful platform for discovery and collaboration.

The Foundation is also investing in its digital infrastructure, including the development of a global Patient Hub and Knowledge Centre, designed to deliver accessible, high-quality information to both clinicians and patients worldwide.

The iCMLf Climb for a Cure continues to unite the global community behind this mission, with the 2023 Annapurna Base Camp expedition and the 2026 Avenue of the Volcanoes climb in Ecuador raising both critical funds and awareness to support education and collaborative research.

Through these initiatives, the iCMLf continues to reduce inequities, strengthen global expertise, and shape the future of CML, moving the field closer to a world where all patients have the opportunity to achieve the best possible outcome.

Impact and vision

Over the years, the iCMLf has achieved transformative milestones:

  • Training for more than 200 hematologists through the Preceptorship Program, supporting sustainable CML services across low and middle-income countries.
  • Awarding over 50 grants to strengthen diagnostic capacity, enabling more accurate monitoring and informed treatment decisions.
  • Enabling global scientific collaboration through initiatives such as the TFR Alliance and Genomics Alliance, advancing research and innovation across an international network.
  • Cohosting the annual ESH-iCMLf John Goldman Conference on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Biology and Therapy, a leading global forum for knowledge exchange and scientific progress.

Looking ahead, the iCMLf remains firmly committed to improving outcomes for people living with CML worldwide. The Foundation envisions a future where access to effective treatment is no longer determined by geography or income and where achieving a cure becomes a realistic possibility.

With the support of the global CML community, the iCMLf continues to address unmet needs, drive innovation, and shape a more equitable future for all those affected by CML.