myeloma canada research grant

improving patient outcomes through results-driven research  

  

Myeloma Canada Announces Recipient of this Year’s Research Grant

Myeloma Canada’s goal, as a patient-driven, patient-focused organization, is to improve outcomes for all Canadians living with myeloma through education, awareness, advocacy and research.

As part of our continuing efforts to advance Canadian myeloma research Myeloma Canada established the Myeloma Canada research grant earlier this year. With guidance from the Myeloma Canada Scientific Advisory Board and the Myeloma Canada Research Network, selection criteria were established that guided the Peer Review Committee in their evaluation and selection process.

The Peer Review Committee, composed of members of the Myeloma Canada Scientific Advisory Board, have reviewed and evaluated each application based on its merits in light of the established criteria.

We are pleased to announce that the recipient of the first annual Myeloma Canada research grant in the amount of $50,000 is Dr Sabine Mai of the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology in Winnipeg. Dr Mai and her colleague Dr Ade Olujohungbe of CancerCare Manitoba will undertake a research study designed to enhance monitoring and patient management in multiple myeloma using a novel 3D-diagnostic tool.

The causes of disease progression from its precursor condition, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), to full-blown (symptomatic) multiple myeloma (MM) and its progression to relapsed multiple myeloma remain elusive.

Dr Mai and her colleagues will perform quantitative analysis of the 3D nuclear telomeric organization of plasma cells collected from patients who have been positively diagnosed with either MGUS, MM or relapsed MM.

Preliminary studies examining the 3D nuclear telomeric organization of patient plasma cells suggest that it is feasible to positively identify specific 3D nuclear telomeric
signatures for MGUS, MM and relapsed MM.

The research proposal hypothesizes that:

1. The 3D nuclear organization of telomeres predicts whether a patient with plasma cell disease has MGUS, MM or relapsed MM;

2. The 3D nuclear organization of telomeres predicts disease progression from MGUS to MM;

2. The 3D nuclear organization of telomeres predicts the transition of MM to relapsed MM.

By examining the 3D telomeric profiles of MGUS, MM, and relapsed MM, the study will lead to a definition of 3D telomeric criteria that allow for the objective assessment of
MGUS, MM, MGUS/MM transition, and MM/relapsed MM transition and enable better patient management decisions on an individual basis.

Congratulations to Dr Mai on being the first recipient of the Myeloma Canada research grant.

The Myeloma Canada Research Grant was made possible through generous donations from myeloma patients, their family members, caregivers and other supporters. If you would like to make myeloma matter you can make a contribution online by clicking the link below:

http://www.myeloma.ca/en/donation.htm