The 2025 IMF Latin American Myeloma Network (LAMN) Master Class and Summit took place on November 14–15, 2025, in Santiago, Chile. 
 

By Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO 
IMF Chief Medical Officer 
 
Scope and Methodology   
This week’s blog is a republishing of IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael's Myeloma Today article on the 2025 Latin American Myeloma Network (LAMN) Master Class and Summit. It is intended for patients, care partners, and oncology professionals. This blog article was medically reviewed by Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO, on March 4, 2026. The blog reflects medical guidance available at the time of review and is not routinely updated.  
 
 

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) was established in 1990 and began its global activities shortly thereafter. The IMF is dedicated to serving the myeloma community – patients, care partners, scientists, clinicians, and others – regardless of where they are located.  
 

In 1995, the IMF established its first Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), comprised of myeloma specialists from around the world. At that time, the number of experts was small – in the two digits – and the IMF’s SAB included them all. Since then, the field of myeloma has grown immeasurably, and so has the IMF.  
 
Currently, the IMF International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), our key collaborative research arm, includes more than 360 members. The IMF Asian Myeloma Network (AMN), established in 2011, is bringing together myeloma experts from more than 10 countries to conduct clinical trials, create databases, and provide resources to both doctors and patients in the region.  
 
Our IMF Latin America (IMF-LA) affiliate, based in Brazil, was founded in 2004 to provide resources, education, and support for myeloma patients and the medical community in South America. In 2024, the IMF launched the Latin American Myeloma Network (LAMN), patterned after the successful model of the AMN. The inaugural LAMN Summit was held in September 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  
 
The incidence of myeloma in Latin America is becoming more prevalent, and this has become a concerning issue due to poorer outcomes. The LAMN was formed to help patients with access to novel therapies, increase the expertise in myeloma in the region, facilitate collaborative research, conduct clinical trials, generate local data, and educate the myeloma patient community. LAMN founding countries include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. More recent additions include Colombia and Mexico.  
 
In November 2025, the LAMN held a Master Class and Summit in Santiago, Chile. More than 30 individuals gathered to deepen their knowledge of myeloma, discuss research projects and clinical trials, and plan educational and outreach activities.  
 
Held on November 14th, the Master Class covered the spectrum of myeloma from precursor conditions to frontline therapy, maintenance, early and late relapse, and how to deliver immunotherapies more safely and effectively. Nearly all senior physicians from the region gave presentations, followed by extensive discussion. Between these lectures, junior faculty presented clinical cases, each leading to a detailed exchange about practical clinical management.  
 
The LAMN Summit took place on November 15th, with project proposals presented by junior faculty. Seven projects were pre-selected from 20 that were submitted earlier in the year. Designed as collaborative projects across multiple centers, proposals included lab-based studies, surveys, clinical trials, and chart reviews. The scientific level of the proposals was commendable.  
 
Next, attention turned to the upcoming launch of the first LAMN clinical trial, as well as potential future studies, with special emphasis on novel therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), bispecific antibodies, and CAR T-cell therapy. The IMF team is excited to develop a deeper collaboration with our colleagues in Latin America, and we look forward to bringing the expertise from this region to the global programs of the IMF, including the IMWG.  
 
The level of engagement and camaraderie across the two days of the LAMN Master Class & Summit demonstrated a strong sense of optimism for what the LAMN can accomplish in the region. I look forward to sharing with you the future activities and achievements of this important initiative.  
 
(This article was published in the Winter 2026 edition of Myeloma Today (https://www.myeloma.org/resource-library/myeloma-today-winter-2026) — the IMF's quarterly publication of myeloma research.)