Global Collaboration Thrives at the IMF's 2024 Global Myeloma Action Network's Annual Summit

At its Global Myeloma Action Network (GMAN) annual summit from June 7-9, 2024, in Madrid, Spain, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) brought together 100 of the greatest minds in myeloma. The mission was clear: Put an end to myeloma.

Made up of multiple myeloma patient organization leaders from around the world, GMAN focuses on improving the lives of myeloma patients, raising awareness of multiple myeloma, enhancing the capabilities of patient advocacy groups, building the capacity of local myeloma organizations, and increasing worldwide access to medicine and treatment.

At the three-day, annual summit, members broke out into working committee sessions. These sessions centered on

• patient access to myeloma treatments,
• health policy for government organizations around the world, 
• clinical research including where trials are located in different nations, and 
• capacity-building for GMAN member organizations.

An exciting part of the summit is the presentation of the Susie Novis Durie Educational Grants, named in honor of the IMF’s Founder Susie Novis Durie. The IMF awards these grants to patient advocacy organizations to increase education, awareness, and access to treatment worldwide. Congratulations to this year's grant recipients: Mijelom CRO, Dansk Myelomatose Forening, Amen Organization, and Mieloma Euronet Romania.

As the 2024 GMAN Summit concluded, the IMF thanks our Global Vice President for Patient Engagement & Advocacy, Emma Hatcher. Emma's commitment to increasing access to life-saving myeloma treatment and enhancing the capabilities of patient advocacy groups worldwide was felt throughout the 9 months of planning and leading the Annual GMAN Summit. Thank you to Emma and GMAN Director Serdar Erdoğan, and to our IMF staff for their unwavering commitment to people across the world who are living with myeloma blood cancer.