One of the ways GMAN accomplishes its mission is by awarding Susie Novis Durie (SND) Educational Grants to patient advocacy organizations to elevate their work. Here are the 2024 SND Grant Recipients:
Croatia: Mijelom CRO
“Compassion Without Borders"
The project combines two aspects of improving care in myeloma: 1) early diagnosis by increasing awareness and 2) access to safe myeloma medicine for patients where access is limited. The program is to build on what MijelomCRO has already done in helping patients from Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, and to a smaller number from Serbia and would be done cross-country in cooperation with other local patient organizations. They will organize virtual and in-person meetings with key decision-makers and stakeholders from Bosnia, Macedonia, and Serbia to explore specific barriers to access to generic and novel treatments. They also provide a helpline by phone and email to offer support and information.
Denmark: Dansk Myelomatose Forening
“Living With Myeloma for Patients and Caretakers”
The organization aims to cover an unmet need regarding how relatives cope with the situation of having a family member suffering from a chronic, fatal cancer disease. They aim to facilitate this by expanding the Patient and Family Seminars organized with the IMF, followed by a special seminar the next day featuring three simultaneous breakout sessions focusing on how relatives can survive and be strengthened, how patients can be empowered, and methods for achieving these goals. The breakout session for relatives will be exclusively for this group. Also, health journalists will collect responses through many interviews with the target group.
Israel: Amen Organization
“Podcasts About Treatment For Patients at Various Stages of Disease ”
The organization plans to produce 10 podcasts named “Listening To Myeloma” to share medical information that will be carried out by a hematologist and a patient who has undergone the treatment in question. A psychologist and the patient will work together on coping with the various stages of the disease. The podcasts will be released in Hebrew and Arabic. The series will be uploaded to the Amen Organization's website, Spotify, and all relevant digital platforms.
Romania: Myeloma Euronet Romania
“Training For Hematological Nurses”
It is foreseen that the nurse training on the new therapeutical care required in the case of novel treatments will have a real impact on multiple myeloma patients. The association aims to organize a two-day event inviting Prof. Eric Aerts, former EBMT President, to deliver lectures for the nurses. Also, former EBMT President, Dr. Horia Bumbea, Chief at the University Hospital, Dr. Viola Popov, Hematologist at Colentina Hospital, and Dr. Tanase, the Chief of the Transplant Unit at Fundeni Hospital will make presentations about the new therapies for CAR-T.