About the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation

About the FLF

Nobody deserves to live with an incurable cancer. The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation (FLF) is dedicated to changing that. As the first charity focused solely on finding a cure for follicular lymphoma, we’re leading the charge to accelerate research and provide hope to patients worldwide.

With established entities in Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States, we drive international collaboration to accelerate progress in the diagnosis, treatment, and eventual cure of this cancer.

Our worldwide reach allows us to partner with leading researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient communities across diverse regions, ensuring our efforts are targeted where they are needed most.

Through our global partnerships and a unified approach, we are breaking down barriers in research and patient support. Join us in our mission to Unlock the Cure for follicular lymphoma.

What is FL?

Follicular lymphoma is a type of blood cancer affecting over a million people across the world. Follicular lymphoma is the 2nd most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma, yet despite its prevalence, most people have never heard of it. This means it’s not getting the scientific attention or the funding it deserves. We’re collaborating with global leaders in the industry to change this.

Follicular lymphoma isn’t like most other cancers. For most people, it isn’t an aggressive disease. Instead, individuals with it will go through periods of active disease, followed by remissions.

Living with follicular lymphoma causes a range of physical and emotional challenges, as well as living with the uncertainty of not knowing when and how the cancer will return.

Around a fifth of people living with follicular lymphoma will develop an acute form of the disease which can be highly resistant to treatment and have a poor outcome for patients.

Follicular lymphoma is currently incurable, but we are committed to changing that – for patients living with it now and for those who will be diagnosed in the future. With your help, a cure is just around the corner.

Our Mission

To find a cure and find it fast

Follicular lymphoma is far from a new disease. But although first diagnosed almost a century ago in 1925, progress in the treatment of follicular lymphoma has been frustratingly slow. Too slow for people living with this condition. We’re not prepared to wait any longer.

Research and science have progressed rapidly – survival rates for some cancers have increased dramatically. Yet follicular lymphoma receives comparatively little funding and little attention – unless you know someone with FL you are unlikely to have heard of it. Nobody should live with an incurable cancer – when we can change that.

Our History

We know better than anyone what it’s like to live with follicular lymphoma. We understand the fear, the challenges, and the uncertainty an FL diagnosis and ongoing treatments bring. That’s because the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation was launched in the summer of 2019 by our founder, Nicola Mendelsohn, who was diagnosed with FL in November 2016.

At the time, despite being the second most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma, there was very little information available about follicular lymphoma. During her search to understand her condition better, Nicola connected with the ‘Living with Follicular Lymphoma’ Facebook group. Here she had the opportunity to be part of a community of others who shared her journey, and who

shared their own insight, advice and support. The group has over 12,000 members globally – a close-knit online community of people going through the same journeys.

Over time, Nicola became more involved in the stories and experiences of the individuals in the group as well as her own treatment. This led her to develop relationships with leading clinicians and investigators in the field, who convinced her that by raising awareness and funds, so much more could be done to find a cure.

Driven by her passion to make a difference to people living with follicular lymphoma and find a cure for this disease, the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation was established in the summer of 2019.

Board of Directors

Nicola Mendelsohn CBE
Chair, UK and US Board

Nicola Mendelsohn is the Head of Global Business Group at Meta. She also serves on The Mayor of London’s Business Advisory Board, the UK government’s Industrial Strategy Council, and is a non-executive director of Diageo. Alongside her husband, she is co-president of the charity Norwood.

In 2015, Nicola was awarded a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the creative industries in the UK. Prior to joining Meta, she spent over 20 years in advertising, holding prominent roles such as Industry Chair of the UK Creative Industries Council, first female President of the IPA, Trustee of The White Ribbon Alliance, Chairman of Women’s Aid Development Board, and President of WACL. She was also a Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Her greatest joy in life comes from her husband, Jon, and their four children: Gabi, Danny, Sam, and Zac.

Lord Jon Mendelsohn
UK and US Board

Lord Mendelsohn brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to improving the lives of those affected by this challenging form of cancer.

With a background in politics and business, Lord Mendelsohn has held numerous leadership roles, leveraging his expertise to drive impactful initiatives and foster innovative solutions. His strategic vision and dedication have been instrumental in advancing the foundation’s mission to support research, provide patient resources, and advocate for better treatments.

Beyond his work with the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation, Lord Mendelsohn is an active member of the House of Lords, where he contributes to a wide array of policy discussions, particularly those related to healthcare and social justice. His passion for making a difference is evident in all his endeavors, making him a pivotal force in the fight against follicular lymphoma.

Lord Richard Harrington
UK Board

Richard is a distinguished Member of the House of Lords and served as the Member of Parliament for Watford from 2010 to 2019. He most recently held the position of Minister of State (Minister for Refugees) and has previously served in several key ministerial roles, including in the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

Before his political career, Richard spent 25 years in the hotel and real estate industries, focusing on large-scale property development and the sale and management of hotels. His extensive experience in these sectors includes significant trans-Atlantic boardroom involvement.

In addition to his professional achievements, Richard is deeply committed to philanthropy. He serves as a trustee of several charities, is a Patron of Peace Hospice Care, and is a former Fundraising Chairman of the Variety Club Children’s Society.

Andrea Wong
UK Board

Andrea Wong serves on the boards of Liberty Media Corporation, Qurate Retail Group, Hudson’s Bay Company, Hudson Pacific Properties and Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings. She is also a Governor of the British Film Institute and a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts.

She was most recently President, International Production for Sony Pictures Television and President, International for Sony Pictures Entertainment based in London.

Previously, Wong served as President and CEO of Lifetime Networks. Prior to that, she was Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming, Specials and Late Night at ABC.

Wong graduated MIT with a degree in electrical engineering and received an MBA from Stanford University. She is also a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a member of the Committee of 100.

Mike Thompson MBE
UK Board

Mike was CEO at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) from 2016-19, representing the industry with Government, and at Select Committees, and in broadcast media. He had previously had a twenty-year career with GlaxoSmithKline as a senior Commercial leader working at the UK, European and Global level.

After Oxford he joined Unilever as a trainee and became a classically trained marketer working in food and personal products.

He has been on the Committee of The Wine Society, the world’s oldest wine ‘mutual’, for over twenty years, and was on the Board of London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s promotional agency for the city, through the Olympics in 2012.

Professor Jonathan Simons
UK and US Board

Jonathan is an American physician-scientist, medical oncologist, and biotechnology inventor. He is currently the Chief Science Officer and Medical Director of the Marcus Foundation and a renowned leader in prostate cancer research.

His groundbreaking work at Johns Hopkins University and Emory University has significantly advanced the understanding of cancer metastases and the role of immunomodulatory cytokines. Jonathan’s translational research proved the feasibility of overcoming immune tolerance in metastatic prostate cancer using GM-CSF gene transduced vaccines.

Jonathan was the Founding Director of Georgia’s first NCI-designated cancer center, the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, where he also served as Chief of Hematology and Oncology. Before Emory, he directed the Molecular Pharmacology Program at Johns Hopkins University.

He has held numerous leadership roles with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, American Association of Cancer Research, and the National Cancer Institute, contributing significantly to national cancer research and policy initiatives.

Jess Burley
UK Board

Jess has been Executive Chair of mSix&Partners since January 2022, following 12 years as Global Chief Executive. She established the business as one of the fastest-growing media planning and buying agencies. As Executive Chair of mSix&Partners, Jess continues to advise a number of clients and is leading development of The&Academy.

With a career spanning advertising, marketing and publishing, Jess has a track record of growth, transformation and building winning teams. Prior to joining mSix&Partners, as Group Managing Direct Jess led the restructure of Natmags and Hearst Digital to address changing digital markets and audience trends. She also headed up the online division of Future Publishing.

She has held Non-Executive positions at Quarto Plc, UK Mail Plc, Jacques Vert Plc and TalkTalk Telecom Plc. She was a trustee of The Mix, the young person’s charity supporting 13-24 year olds. She continues to mentor colleagues at all levels at mSix&Partners.

Jess is driven by belief in the impact of collaboration aligned to a bold vision, with a healthy dose of passion and energy. Outside of work, she enjoys walking, cooking, golf and crime fiction.

Jonathan Cohen
US Board

Jonathan Cohen is a director of FLF- US and helps guide FLF’s American operations. A former chief operations officer of the Feinstein Institutes of Medical Research at Northwell Health,
Jonathan has extensive experience building medical research operations, including overseeing clinical trials.

With a background in government and business, Jonathan has provided
management, operations, and communications support to businesses, healthcare organizations,
non-profits, and individuals looking to manage risk, growth, and transformation.

He has served as an adviser to CEO’s, philanthropists, foundation and non-profit leaders, and senior government officials. Prior to his career in management and consulting, Jonathan was an advisor to Mayor Edward I. Koch of New York, a director of public policy at Joseph E. Seagram and
Sons, and the publisher of Commentary Magazine.

He began his career as a news editor and announcer for Dow Jones Radio and The Wall Street Journal Radio Network. He has lectured at Harvard Law School, Kiev University, SUNY Buffalo School of Law, and SUNY Potsdam College. His reviews and essays have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Baltimore Sun, Commentary, Tablet, and other top publications.

In addition to serving on the board of FLF-US, Jonathan is a director of U.N. Watch, and The Tupelo Quarterly Press. He holds a JD from New York Law School and a BA from Kenyon College.

Dr Louis de Gennaro
US Board

Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D.
Managing Partner, Cantlous Advisory Partners, LLC

Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., is founder and managing partner at Cantlous Advisory Partners, LLC (CAP), a pioneering consulting firm working at the intersection of venture philanthropy, biomedical innovation, and non-profit fundraising. CAP’s mission is to drive collaborative efforts that result in transformative advancements in healthcare. Prior to his current role, Dr. DeGennaro was president and chief executive officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a global leader in the fight against cancer with an annual budget of $500 million.

As the key architect of LLS’s cures and access agenda, Dr. DeGennaro conceived and pioneered LLS’s Therapy Acceleration Program® – a venture philanthropy approach to accelerating new treatments to patients through drug discovery and development partnerships with the biotechnology industry. LLS’s foray into venture philanthropy helped redefine the activist role of non-profits to meet urgent unmet medical needs. Under Dr. DeGennaro’s leadership LLS also launched its groundbreaking precision medicine Beat AML® Master Clinical Trial and Dare to Dream, a research, advocacy, and patient support effort that features a global, master clinical trial in pediatric leukemia.

In his operating role at LLS, Dr. DeGennaro led the growth of annual revenue from $225 million in 2015 to $500 million in 2023 through innovative fundraising programs that cut across peer-to-peer, corporate partnership, major gift, and service revenue channels.

After receiving his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California at San Francisco, Dr. DeGennaro conducted post-doctoral research at the Yale University School of Medicine. His academic appointments included research group leader, Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany and associate professor of neurology and cell biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School. His private sector appointments included Senior Director, Molecular Genetics, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Executive Vice President, Synex Pharmaceuticals. Dr. DeGennaro is the author of over 100 scientific publications.

Our Team

Emma France
Global Chief Executive Officer

Emma is the Global CEO of the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation (FLF), bringing over 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership, growth, and global health.

Before joining the FLF in February 2025, she was Chief Growth Officer at mothers2mothers, driving international expansion, establishing high-impact partnerships, and creating award-winning campaigns. Emma also has extensive governance experience, having served as Vice-Chair of Amnesty International UK, is a trustee of CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), and sits on Gucci’s Chime Advisory Board.

At the heart of Emma’s career is a deep belief in preventing the preventable – but also pushing beyond survival. “Why would we not do everything in our power to enable people affected by cancer to thrive?” She believes healthcare should be shaped by those who rely on it, advocating for user-led services that harness the knowledge and experience of those directly affected. Her leadership at the FLF is focused on scaling impact, growing FLF’s global presence, and driving meaningful collaborations.

Beyond her work, Emma is a mother of three boys and a devoted cocker spaniel owner. She spends her spare time enjoying cake and cold-water swimming.

Mitchell Smith, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer

Dr Smith earned his Medical Degree and PhD at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Long Island Jewish Hospital, NY, spent 3 years as a Resident in Pathology at Washington University – Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis, MO, then another year as a Resident in Internal Medicine at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, MO. His Fellowship in Medical Oncology was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, NY where he also was a Fellow in Biomedical Research in the Clinical Scholars Program. He is Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Haematology and Medical Oncology.

Dr Smith’s experience is broad and spans a number of years. After serving as Assistant Professor in Medical Oncology at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, he joined Fox Chase Cancer Centre in 1993, where he remained as Director of the Lymphoma Program and Professor of Medicine until 2012. He served as the Director of the Lymphoid Malignancy Program at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH from 2012 to 2017, when he joined the GW Cancer Centre in Washington DC as Associate Cancer Centre Director for Clinical Investigations, as well as Chief of the Division of Oncology & Blood Disorders. His clinical and laboratory interests have focused on targeted approaches to improve therapy of lymphoid malignancies. He has been involved in numerous clinical trials of targeted therapies, including CART cells, in lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma.

Dr Smith’s honours include a lifetime achievement award from the Delaware chapter of the LLS. He is an active member of the ASCO, AACR, ASH and ECOG. He has served on the NCCN lymphoma and myeloma guideline committees and chaired the Mantle Cell Lymphoma subcommittee of the NCTN lymphoma planning committee.

Maggie Bolger
Chief Development Officer

Maggie Bolger has joined the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation as our Chief Development Officer.

Maggie brings over a decade of experience in development and fundraising, having led successful campaigns and major gift initiatives at prestigious organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute, Oregon Health & Science University Foundation, and the Oregon Food Bank.

Her expertise in building robust fundraising infrastructures and securing significant contributions will be instrumental in advancing the FLF’s mission to find a cure for follicular lymphoma. Maggie is dedicated to driving the foundation’s strategic fundraising efforts, ensuring sustained growth and impactful donor engagement.

Dr Julie Dodds - Director of Patient and Clinical Research Programmes

Julie previously worked as a Senior Research Fellow at University College London (UCL), where she conducted sexual health research and obtained a PhD in HIV epidemiology.

In her last role she gained experience in grant development, large multi-centre clinical trials, individual participant data meta-analysis and linking with industry. Julie has a particular interest in Patient and Public Involvement in research and believes it is crucial to incorporate patient’s views and experiences into the research process. She assisted in the set-up of Katie’s Team, a patient and public involvement group for women’s health in East London.

Julie has joined the FLF Team to set-up the FLF’s research programme of work and leads on all the operational aspects of the foundation. She is advising on the structure of each programme area, establishing standard operating procedures and reporting metrics and supporting the development of new partnerships and is directly responsible for the FL Patient Recruitment and Engagement.

Rosie Leggett
Head of Donor Engagement

Rosie is the Head of Donor Engagement at the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation, where she also leads the charity’s marketing and communications efforts. She initially joined the FLF as the Individual Giving Manager in 2022 and was promoted to her current role in 2024. Rosie is dedicated to enhancing the value and duration of support from donors and engaging with our volunteers who organize fundraising events.

Prior to her time at FLF, Rosie worked at Marie Curie and Blind Veterans, gaining extensive experience in individual giving and donor engagement. Passionate about improving cancer treatments globally, she is committed to spreading the FLF message and ensuring the necessary funds are raised to find a cure. Rosie deeply values every donor, recognizing that the charity’s work is only possible thanks to their generosity and support.

Dr Zoe Drymoussi
Research Manager

Zoe’s background is in laboratory-based translational biomedical research, having previously worked at Boehringer Ingelheim in Vienna, Austria, the Cambridge Institute of Cancer Research UK and at the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research Queen Mary University of London, as part of her PhD studies.

More recently, Zoe has worked for several years as a senior trials co-ordinator at the Centre for Women’s Health at Queen Mary University of London. In her last role, Zoe was closely involved with Katie’s Team (a women’s health patient and public involvement advisory group based in East London), ensuring women’s voices were represented in the research being carried out.

Zoe has joined the FLF team to support the development of the FLF research programme.

Nicola James - Research Manager of Patient Programmes

Nicola has a background in clinical trial and operational research coordination, previously focusing on infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. In her previous role at Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders she worked on a successful clinical trial which revolutionised treatment for people with drug-resistant tuberculosis and is now being used worldwide.

Through her work, Nicola has specialised in community and patient engagement and involvement at an international level, having previously worked at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit and the International Organisation for Migration.

Nicola has joined the FLF team to support the development and implementation of FLF research and patient programmes. She feels passionate to contribute to accelerating translational research and is committed to collaborating with those most affected by research outcomes, ensuring that the patient perspective is meaningfully integrated into research.

Louise Blair
Fundraising Manager

Louise Blair joins us in a new role, as FLF Fundraising Manager. Lou is responsible for sustaining and building the UK fundraising pipeline of individual donors along with trusts and corporates.

Having spent her early career as an author of numerous health-based cookbook. Lou decided to make the move to fundraising within the charity sector, the thrill of making a difference for which ever cause she worked for continues to drive her enthusiasm and passion.

Lou has a wide and varied experience of Fundraising Management in NFP, gained from over 11 years in various roles for a number of different charities including MNDA, Diabetes UK and Woking and Sam Beare Hospice. Lou has a true desire to make the lives of those living with medical conditions the best they can be and is delighted to join the team of passionate individuals at FLF to help make that difference.

Zubair Ali
Finance Manager

Zubair is a highly experienced and qualified accountant with over 15 years of experience in finance. He has worked across various sectors, which has given him the ability to pick up the best and most efficient practices across different industries. Zubair is skilled in report building, budgeting, and forecasting, and is detailed oriented with creative problem-solving abilities. He is always striving for process improvement and ensuring the FLF adheres to important governance rules and financial procedures. Zubair is also passionate about using his expertise to support a great cause and thoroughly enjoys working within the charity sector.

Fiona Rose
Administrative Coordinator

Fiona has spent her career offering high level operational and administrative services across a variety of corporate and not for profit organisations. She is now at a stage where working towards a common goal that will have a positive impact on people’s health and lifestyle is far more motivating and rewarding than merely seeing an increase in profits.

Passionate about being a pro-active member of the marketing and communications team, and also providing support to the FLF Team in all aspects of admin, Fiona is excited and grateful for the opportunity to work within such an amazing charity, and finds everyone incredibly enthusiastic which is a breath of fresh air.

“At last, my natural exuberance for even the most menial of tasks has found a place alongside a fantastically like-minded team. No one minds how excited I get about spreadsheets!”

Raluca Juravle
Executive Assistant

Raluca has built a career offering executive assistance, office management, and administrative support across a range of sectors. Working for the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation has allowed her to focus on work that’s both meaningful and impactful, aligning with her desire to contribute to a cause that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

As a dedicated and proactive member of the team, Raluca thrives on providing administrative support and working collaboratively to achieve the FLF’s goals. She is excited to be part of a passionate, purpose-driven team, where every task—no matter how small—is approached with care and enthusiasm.

‘It’s a privilege to bring my skills to a team that shares my passion for making a difference. I’m constantly inspired by the energy and drive of everyone around me!’

Our advisors

Dr David Kennard
Industry Advisor

David has worked across the pharmaceutical industry for three decades and has been advising the FLF since February 2019.

From 2017-2018, David advised Cancer Research UK on re-structuring and implementing change within the Commercial Partnerships division. He also headed up the Opportunity Sourcing and Translation group through formation and recruitment of a team of 15 practitioners. He led on elements of CRUK’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship agenda.

For 4 years previously, David was Senior Advisor within the Corporate Development group at Gilead Sciences. Dr Kennard was also VP, Strategic Alliances YM BioSciences Inc. prior to its acquisition by Gilead Sciences in February 2013. Before joining YM, he was CEO of NeuroTargets, and prior to that he was COO of SR Pharma Plc, a UK-based biotechnology company which developed therapeutic vaccines. He was also with GlaxoSmithKline in development and then strategic planning roles.

Prof Jessica Okosun
Scientific Advisor

Jessica Okosun is Professor of Translational Cancer Research and Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist at the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London.

She is a Consultant Haematologist at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London UK specialising in lymphomas.

Her research interests are focused on understanding how lymphomas initiate, diversify and evolve, particularly follicular lymphoma in a bid to define novel biomarkers and improve treatment. She serves as a member of the UK’s National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Low Grade and High Grade Lymphoma subgroups. She also serves on a number of Scientific Advisory Committees. She chairs the Barts Cancer Centre’s Patient and Public Involvement Research Advisory Group. Jessica has been advising the FLF since February 2019.