Dr. Furman's particular research focus has been on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Waldenstrom's marcroglobulinemia. To this end he has established two collaborative groups focusing on research in these two areas. The CLL Research Center, with Dr. Furman as the Director, is currently engaged in clinical and bench top projects focusing on furthering our understanding of CLL and how to better treat it. The CLL Research Center is currently running seven clinical trials testing novel agents and ideas in the treatment of CLL. The Center also includes ten basic science projects that are being undertaken by faculty members of different Departments throughout the medical school. The second group, the Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia Research Consortium (WRC), is a consortium consisting of investigators from five institutions (Weill Cornell, Columbia, Ohio State University, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and the Mayo Clinic) collaborating on clinical trials and translational research projects in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Seed money for the Consortium has been provided by a patient of Drs. Furman and Morton Coleman. In 2004, in support of his outstanding contributions to clinical care, education and translational clinical research in the field of lymphoid malignancies, Dr. Richard R. Furman was appointed the Charles, Lillian, and Betty Neuwirth Clinical Scholar in Oncology. He also participates in clinical research on a national level, serving as an Associate Member of the Lymphoma Core Committee of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), the NCI sponsored national cooperative group to which Weill Cornell belongs.