The International Myeloma Working Group^® (IMWG) emerged from the IMF’s Scientific Advisory Board which was established in 1995. It became clear that there was a need to conduct collaborative research and produce consensus guidelines for the myeloma community. The first consensus guideline was published in 2003 and the first Annual Brainstorming Summit was organized in Barcelona in 2010.

IMWG Mission Statement

The mission of the IMWG is to conduct collaborative basic, clinical, and translational research to improve outcomes for myeloma patients while providing scientifically validated, critically appraised consensus guidelines for the myeloma community globally.

The Importance of the IMWG

The IMWG is one of the most prestigious organizations for myeloma researchers worldwide. Their work has allowed researchers a greater understanding of myeloma and treatments. The IMWG members meet each year to be informed and included in current and new research projects.

Creating, supporting, and hosting the important work of the IMWG and its members is a critical element of the International Myeloma Foundation’s mission to expand myeloma research and to educate multiple myeloma patients around the world.

IMWG Milestones

The IMWG’s development of multiple myeloma guidelines has evolved alongside advances in research, diagnostics, and treatment. Three major milestones illustrate how the group has progressively refined the way clinicians classify disease and assess patient risk.

2005: Establishing the International Staging System

In 2005, the IMWG introduced the International Staging System, creating a standardized and practical framework for classifying newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Developed from data on 10,750 patients across North America, Europe, and Asia, the ISS gave clinicians worldwide a common language for evaluating disease stage.

2015: Expanding Risk Assessment With the Revised ISS

A decade later, the IMWG published the Revised International Staging System, building on the original framework by incorporating additional biological and prognostic information. The R-ISS marked an important shift toward a more nuanced understanding of myeloma risk beyond traditional clinical measures.

2025: Advancing a Modern, Biologically Informed Classification

In 2025, the IMWG and International Myeloma Society jointly issued a new consensus classification for high-risk multiple myeloma. Reflecting contemporary research and treatment advances, the framework represents the latest step toward aligning risk assessment with modern clinical decision-making and clinical trial design.

Learn more about each of these IMWG staging systems here (https://www.myeloma.org/international-staging-system-iss-reivised-iss-r-iss).