The goals of the Friends of José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation are:

• To cure leukemia and related diseases, such as lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, by providing funding for medical research and
  
  
• To cooperate on a national and international level to recruit volunteer marrow donors.

Annual research fellowships are awarded by the Friends to promising researchers early in their careers. The award is $50,000 / year for three years.    Fellows are selected by a panel of experts chaired by 1990 Nobel Laureate E. Donnall Thomas, M.D. In the past, the Friends have also shared funding of the annual scholarships awarded by the American Society of Hematology.

The Friends have helped support more than 30 scientists worldwide, whose efforts carry over to many areas of research. From breast cancer to HIV, leukemia research impacts treatment for a spectrum of diseases.