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IIn this week’s blog, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) talks about the top takeaways from the 2025 IMWG Conference Series. Hosted by IMF Chief Medical Officer Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO (TGen at the City of Hope — Phoenix), along with myeloma experts, IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Beth Faiman, PhD, MSN, APRN-BC, AOCN, FAAN (Cleveland Clinic, Taussig Cancer Institute — Cleveland); and Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP (Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine — Atlanta), the second part of the this two-part series tackles the following topics: Early Relapse, Late Relapse, and the New Definition of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma. Discover key insights from the recently concluded IMWG Summit in Milan, Italy through this informative and insightful webinar from myeloma experts. READ THE BLOG.

To honor the memory of its co-founder, the International Myeloma Foundation established the Brian D. Novis (BDN) Research Grant Program in 1995.  Since then, BDN Research Grants have been awarded annually to deserving senior and junior investigators in the field of myeloma.   

To date, the IMF has funded almost close to 160 of the most promising projects by both senior and junior investigators in the field of multiple myeloma. Important research supported by the IMF has made contributions that bring us closer to fulfilling the IMF’s mission – finding a cure for myeloma. Read the following press release to learn about the 2024 BDN Senior and Junior Grant Awardees’ research projects, as well as learn about the IMF’s upcoming ceremony for 2025 Grant Awardees. READ THE PRESS RELEASE.

Join us for an IMF Virtual Myeloma Community Workshop on the topic of Managing Myeloma at Relapse on Tuesday, July 29, at 3:00 p.m. PST | 4:00 p.m. MT | 5:00 p.m. CST | 6:00 p.m. EST. During this virtual workshop, experts will discuss treatment strategies for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, the importance of clinical trials, symptom management, and shared decision making with your healthcare team. 

This virtual event’s speakers include IMF Chief Medical Officer Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO (TGen at the City of Hope — Phoenix); Yi Lin, MD, PhD (Mayo Clinic — Rochester, MN); Brea Lipe, MD (University of Rochester — Rochester, NY); IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Rebecca Lu, MSN, FNP-C (MD Anderson Cancer Center — Houston); and IMF Vice President of Patient Support Robin Tuohy. After each presentation, attendees will have time to ask questions of these experts. SAVE MY SEAT.

The next Las Voces de Mieloma, a Spanish-language and virtual support group, will take place on Tuesday, July 15, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. PST. The event's speaker will be Dr. Cesar Rodriguez, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and the Clinical Director of the Multiple Myeloma Center of Excellence. Dr. Rodrgiuez will speak about bispecific antibody treatments for multiple myeloma. 

Cesar Rodriguez, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Clinical Director of the Multiple Myeloma Center of Excellence. He completed training in Medical Hematology Oncology and did additional specialized training in cancer biology research and immuniolgy at Harvard Medical School. He focuses on treating patients with plasma cell disorders using early phase clinical trials and novel immunotherapies such as NK and T-cell redirecting therapies. He has been an active advocate on health disparities and access of such studies to minorities. Aside from his patient care, he is performing translational experiments using a three-dimensional organoid tumor model to study the biology of the myeloma tumor niche and the effects of different treatment agents as a platform for personalized medicine.  For any questions, please email [email protected].  REGISTER NOW. 

El Dr. César Rodríguez es Profesor Asociado de Medicina en la Escuela de Medicina Icahn del Monte Sinaí y Director Clínico del Centro de Excelencia en Mieloma Múltiple. Completó su formación en Oncología Hematológica Médica y realizó formación especializada adicional en investigación en biología del cáncer e inmunología en la Escuela de Medicina de Harvard. Se centra en el tratamiento de pacientes con trastornos de células plasmáticas mediante ensayos clínicos en fase inicial y nuevas inmunoterapias, como las terapias de redirección de células NK y T. Ha defendido activamente las disparidades en salud y el acceso a dichos estudios para las minorías. Además de la atención a pacientes, realiza experimentos traslacionales utilizando un modelo tumoral organoide tridimensional para estudiar la biología del nicho tumoral del mieloma y los efectos de diferentes agentes terapéuticos como plataforma para la medicina personalizada. Para cualquier pregunta, envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected]. REGÍTRESSE AHORA.

Along with patient advocates and support group leaders, IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael discussed Top Myeloma Research presented at the June 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Conference, the IMF International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Summit, and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Conference. Myeloma Research Advocate and City of Hope Support Group Leader Todd Kennedy, President of Myeloma Patients Europe and Patient Advocate Barbara Leonardi, and Founder and Support Group Leader of the Connecticut Myeloma Fighters Information Group Michael Tuohy provided insights on this research from the patient perspective. Watch replays of this webinar in the following segments: Smoldering Myeloma, Frontline Therapy, Early Relapse, Late Relapse, and New Definition of High-Risk Myeloma. Also, the webinar in its entirety is available from the following link: WATCH THE REPLAY.

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will host our 2025 Los Angeles Patient and Family Seminar at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City (555 Universal Hollywood Drive) on August 15-16, 2025. Our panel of myeloma experts has been announced. These speakers include Laura Beilke, Esq. (Triage Center); IMF Chief Medical Officer Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO; IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Donna Catamero, ANP-BC, OCN®, CCRC (Mount Sinai Hospital — New York); IMF Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Danielle Doheny; IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Beth Faiman, PhD, MSN, APN-BC, AOCN®, BMTCN®, FAAN, FAPO (Cleveland Clinic, Taussig Cancer Institute — Cleveland); IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Michaela Hillengass, RN, ACSM-CPT (Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center — Buffalo, NY); Murali Janakiram, MD, MS (City of Hope — Duarte, CA); IMF Scientific Advisory Board Member Shaji Kumar (Mayo Clinic — Rochester, MN); and Robert Vescio, MD (Cedars-Sinai, Samuel Oschin Cancer Center — Los Angeles).  IMF Team members who will speak at this seminar include IMF Vice President of Development Sylvia Dsouza; IMF Vice President of Support Groups Robin Tuohy; and twenty-five-year myeloma survivor Michael Tuohy. The seminar is FREE, but in-person seating is LIMITED. REGISTER NOW.