Black Swan researchers identify good-risk and poor-risk MRD patients, China’s ‘disruptive’ biotech, and reasons to eat ‘real food’

Submitted by blackswan on Fri, 04/13/2018 - 22:01

This week, several reports provide good news for myeloma patients. The Spanish GEM/PETHEMA cooperative study group, supported through the Black Swan Research Initiative, has demonstrated important differences between patients with good- and poor-risk MRD-positive disease in a study published in Leukemia.

 

 

New Studies Examine the Use of Liquid Biopsies and the Possible Causes of Myeloma

Submitted by blackswan on Thu, 04/20/2017 - 21:38

Two newly published studies that received funding from the IMF Black Swan Research Initiative® show how myeloma might be diagnosed and monitored in the future, and, perhaps, the genetic factors that might cause the disease. In his blog this week, IMF Chairman Dr. Brian Durie translates the studies’ implications and offers important caveats for patients to keep in mind. 

 

iStop MM® gets off to a fast start

Submitted by blackswan on Thu, 10/06/2016 - 04:11

The IMF team just returned from the exciting iStopMM kickoff meeting held September 26-27th at the deCode Genetics facility at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. A major project funded by the IMF’s Black Swan Research Initiative, iStopMM (Iceland Screens Treats or Prevents Multiple Myeloma) will examine blood samples from approximately 140,000 adults over age 40 in Iceland for the earliest signs of myeloma. The goal of this innovative and ambitious effort, as I have written about in previous blogs here and here, is to stop myeloma before it develops into full-blown disease.

Is MRD testing ready for “prime time”?

Submitted by blackswan on Fri, 07/15/2016 - 01:17

The answer is a definite yes and no! Yes, it is now a priority to test for minimal residual disease (MRD) in myeloma clinical trials. However, no, MRD testing is not yet recommended in routine clinical practice.  But I’m pleased to report that we are getting there.

The Black Swan Research Initiative® Is the “Myeloma Moonshot”

Submitted by blackswan on Fri, 01/22/2016 - 01:18

Vice President Joe Biden’s cancer “moonshot” has been very much in the news since it was made widely public in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech earlier this month. Most commentary has been positive – who does not want more money to go for cancer research? Apparently, the National Cancer Institute’s budget will be increased by $260.5 million to a total of $5.21 billion in the recently approved fiscal 2016 budget.

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