Jaime Leandro Foundation

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 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.

Contacts

• Website: jaimeleandrofoundation.org
• Get started: contact form
• Patients: patient information
• Doctors: physician information
• Costs, eligibility and sites: JLF FAQ