MMRF Accelerator Magazine Winter 2017 Edition | Page 6

THE MMRF ANSWER FUND LAUNCHES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CARE The MMRF is collecting as much data as possible from our multiple myeloma patients. This data is stored and collected from patients who have participated in our Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative (MMGI), our MMRF CoMMpass Study, SM and other studies, to be used by researchers anywhere in the world. We are also working with our partners to analyze this data to help predict which patients respond best to certain treatments, which could help doctors decide how best to treat every patient in the future. But, this data can be used to answer even more questions. We are investing $5 million over the next three years into The MMRF Answer Fund, designed to answer the questions that are most important to the entire myeloma community, including patients, caregivers, and health care providers as well as researchers. THE ANSWER FUND HAS TWO COMPONENTS: The first part concerns high-risk patients. Despite recent advances in treatment, some myeloma patients that pass away within two years of diagnosis; these patients are defined as “high risk.” WE NEED TO KNOW:  hich patients are high risk at diagnosis? W  hat is the best treatment for high risk patients? W 6 The MMRF has invited researchers to use our data to answer these two important questions. MMRF will fund studies that have the best chance of success. The second part of the Answer Fund asked patients, caregivers, researchers, and health care providers to tell us what their most important questions are. Questions were submitted on our website: TheMMRF.IdeaScale.com. Participants could also see other submitted questions and vote on ones they liked. The top questions will be answered through MMRF-funded research. T H E M M R F.ORG