# Jaime Leandro Foundation JLF helps patients explore personalized cancer vaccines and coordinates the testing, design, manufacturing and doctors involved. Its program uses peptide vaccines. Author: Kevin Wimer Canonical URL: https://kevinwimer.com/companies/jaime-leandro-foundation/ Stable ID: 111bf1a8-e2f4-43ab-a6df-2d7ff225b760 Revision: 78a59deb-3763-43e8-87a5-a66050949baf Published: 2026-10-23T01:14:33.003Z Updated: 2026-10-23T02:28:08.787Z Reviewed: 2026-10-22 ## Who this is for For patients and families exploring personalized cancer vaccines with their oncologist. JLF reviews eligibility case by case; see its linked FAQ for the criteria. The Jaime Leandro Foundation (JLF) is a nonprofit that helps patients explore personalized cancer vaccines. It brings together the patients, doctors and specialist partners needed to make and give them. ## My experience By October 2026, I had spoken at length with JLF about the vaccine process. They helped me understand the testing, timing and steps involved. I found their explanations clear and their communication excellent. My experience was with their guidance and conversations, rather than receiving a vaccine through JLF. ## What they do JLF helps coordinate tumor sequencing, vaccine design, manufacturing and dosing by your treating doctor. It also helps with the FDA expanded access application. I found it helpful to think of this as a series of steps, each with different people responsible. JLF uses personalized peptide vaccines, made of selected protein fragments. [Serova](/companies/serova/) uses mRNA, which tells your cells to make selected target sequences. That's a useful difference when you compare the two. These vaccines are experimental. I'd talk through the evidence and risks with my oncologist. ## Who it is for JLF reviews each person's eligibility. Its FAQ lists criteria including no available curative therapy, expected survival, being able to manage daily activities, and autoimmune conditions that need immune suppression. I'd start by asking whether the program fits my situation. ## How to start Use JLF's contact form. I'd ask what records they need for a first review and how to send them securely. JLF can then explain next steps with your doctor. ## Cost In October 2026, JLF gave me a general budget range of $100,000–$150,000 to share with other patients. I'd use that as a starting budget and ask JLF for a written total for my case. That total should spell out sequencing and other tests, design, manufacturing, administration, monitoring and travel. I'd also ask when each payment is due and what happens if the plan changes. JLF's public FAQ explains its staged payments and refund terms. ## Timing and visits JLF's public material estimates about four to five months for vaccine development. I'd ask for a timeline from the first records review to the first dose, including any testing needed before design starts. Its FAQ lists administration sites in San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Miami and Austin. I'd confirm the location and visit schedule before making travel plans. ## Questions I would ask 1. Can you review the reports and sequencing I already have? What else would you need? 2. What evidence is most relevant to my cancer, and how would we know if it helped? 3. Who would give the vaccine, where, and how long until a first dose? 4. Would it affect my current treatment or my eligibility for another trial? 5. What's the full written cost, what's due at each stage, and what if I can't go ahead? I put more questions in [Personalized cancer vaccines: what to ask](/resources/cancer-vaccines/). ## Contacts - Website: [jaimeleandrofoundation.org](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/) - Get started: [contact form](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/contact) - Patients: [patient information](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/patients) - Doctors: [physician information](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/physicians) - Costs, eligibility and sites: [JLF FAQ](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/faqs) ## Limits and context The treating physician must assess eligibility and the plan for giving the vaccine. See JLF’s FAQ and the FDA patient guidance below. ## Relationships and disclosures In 2026, I spoke with JLF about vaccine options. I had no other financial or business relationship with the foundation. ## Sources - [JLF: official overview](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/) — Jaime Leandro Foundation; official; checked 2026-10-22; Nonprofit role; access through clinical trials and expanded access. - [JLF: patients](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/patients) — Jaime Leandro Foundation; official; checked 2026-10-22; Coordination of sequencing, vaccine design, manufacturing and physician administration. - [JLF: physicians](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/physicians) — Jaime Leandro Foundation; official; checked 2026-10-22; Application assistance, partner responsibilities and estimated development time. - [JLF: frequently asked questions](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/faqs) — Jaime Leandro Foundation; official; checked 2026-10-22; Peptide platform, eligibility, administration locations and public payment/refund terms. The dated general budget in the body is Kevin’s account of a JLF-authorized estimate, not a price quoted from this FAQ. - [JLF: contact](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/contact) — Jaime Leandro Foundation; official; checked 2026-10-22; Official contact page and public email. - [FDA: expanded access information for patients](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/expanded-access/expanded-access-information-patients) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration; official; checked 2026-10-22; Investigational status, physician/sponsor/IRB/FDA roles, lack of guaranteed access or benefit and possible uninsured costs. - [Serova: information for patients and families](https://info.serova.bio/01_PATIENTS_AND_FAMILIES) — Serova; official; checked 2026-10-22; mRNA platform and how peptide and mRNA vaccine approaches differ. Read directly from the official page. - [NCI: how mRNA cancer vaccines work (January 20, 2022)](https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2022/mrna-vaccines-to-treat-cancer) — National Cancer Institute; research; checked 2026-10-22; General mechanism of mRNA vaccines and distinction from protein-fragment approaches. Historical background, not evidence of JLF or Serova outcomes. Organization website: https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/ Information/access: [Contact JLF about current options](https://jaimeleandrofoundation.org/contact) Supported regions: United States Service status: research ## Company facts - **Service:** Help coordinating sequencing, vaccine design, manufacturing, expanded access paperwork and physician administration. (Sources: jlf-patients, jlf-physicians) - **Vaccine:** Personalized peptide vaccine. The Serova comparison in this page explains the different mRNA approach. (Sources: jlf-faq, serova-patients, nci-platforms) - **Timing:** JLF’s public estimate is about four to five months for vaccine development. Ask for a timeline that includes records review and any additional testing. (Sources: jlf-physicians) Topics: emerging-research, expert-support, clinical-trials Capabilities: emerging-research, research-support Related record IDs: 45dd3750-3fe0-4621-9723-fc49fdeaffc2, 966ad3d5-e20a-40de-ba3d-cb072e57ebef Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/kevinace Educational information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.