On June 27, 2019 The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) reported that it is piloting a new precision medicine research initiative called the Immune Atlas (Press release, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, JUN 27, 2019, View Source [SID1234537309]). The objectives of this Immune Atlas pilot are to develop a ‘gold standard’ immune profiling platform for myeloma research studies and to generate robust immune data that is fundamental to the delivery of precision medicine. The Immune Atlas is a critical part of the organization’s bold three-year plan, which focuses, in part, on generating robust immune data to advance precision immuno-oncology efforts.

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"Immunotherapy has transformed outcomes for patients with many kinds of cancers that previously had few effective options," said the MMRF President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Giusti. "Progress in immunotherapy in myeloma has been gradual because of the complexity of the disease and a fragmented research effort. As the leader in precision medicine, we are now seeking to accelerate immune agents into the clinic for myeloma patients and ensure that each patient receives treatment that is specific for their immune profile."

The MMRF has partnered with leading academic centers that will employ cutting edge analytical technologies to comprehensively characterize the immune repertoire and activity of key immune cell populations in myeloma patients. The five centers involved in the pilot are from the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC): Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Emory University, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Washington University.

"The great strength of the MMRF is the ability to bring partners together to collaborate on efforts that advance cures for myeloma patients," said the MMRF Chief Scientific Officer Daniel Auclair, PhD. "We are so fortunate to have these five best-in-class institutions as members of our Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), who can bring cutting-edge scientific analysis to bear on the most pressing needs of our patients. Once this immune profiling platform is validated, it can be rolled out to bring the promise of precision immunotherapy to the entire myeloma community."

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the plasma cell. It is the second most common blood cancer. An estimated 30,770 adults (16,400 men and 14,730 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with MM in 2019 and an estimated 12,770 people are predicted to die from the disease. The five-year survival rate for MM is approximately 47%, versus 31% in 1999.