MPN Patient Advocacy Groups Cross the Globe to Partner for Research
(PRWEB) April 16, 2018 -- The MPN (Myeloproliferative Neoplasms) Research Foundation (MPNRF) and MPN Alliance Australia (MPN AA) are proud to announce a research partnership focused on the MPN Interferon Initiative. MPNRF and MPN AA are both patient advocacy organizations who work on behalf of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, a group of rare, chronic blood cancers.
The MPNRF Interferon (IFN) Initiative is a multi-center project which will bring together internationally recognized experts in both blood and solid tumors to determine how cytokine-driven pathways affect the trajectory of the MPNs, a closely-related group of progressive blood cancers. The collaboration among this group of scientists is unprecedented and speaks to their drive to answer this question, which could have wide-ranging impact on the lives of people living with cancer.
About this partnership, Barbara Van Husen, President of MPNRF says “We are thrilled to have joined forces with a group outside of the United States in order to bring clarity to how Interferon works, why it works for some MPN patients but not others, and how to expand its capabilities and extend its use if possible. We have long operated under the model that collaboration among patient advocates is the only way forward to help all patients.”
MPN AA says “We are pleased to have partnered with MPNRF for the benefit of the global MPN Community. We are honored to contribute towards Australian based MPN Research and see the Interferon Initiative as a worthy cause. We know that some patients are unable to take advantage of this treatment due to side effects and others have a poor response. We are hopeful that this research initiative will help overcome these limitations to provide better treatment options. The MPN Alliance Australia is a small volunteer advocacy team of MPN patients. It is our aim to make a difference to the lives of all MPN patients around Australia. We are grateful for the donations from supporters of the MPN cause and we are delighted to be able to contribute towards this unique project. We are excited to see what the outcomes of the study may reveal.”
The funds will directly support Dr. Steven Lane, of the Royal Brisbane Hospital in Queensland, Australia. He is a collaborator of Dr. Ann Mullally of Harvard.
About The MPN Research Foundation:
The MPN Research Foundation is fully dedicated to funding research into the myeloproliferative neoplasms, a rare group of blood cancers which include polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis. Founded in 2000 by a group of patients, the focus is to fund high innovation research that can expand our understanding of the MPNs and get us closer to a cure.
The Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board works with the patient-led board of directors to utilize a rigorous selection process to ensure donations are allocated to the most innovative research projects. To date, the Foundation has awarded twelve million dollars for MPN research and has initiated a patient registry – myMPN – which is a platform that allows for people with ET, PV and MF to self-report their experience of living with an MPN.
To find out more go to http://www.mpnrf.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 773-453-9917
For the patient registry: http://www.mympn.org
Twitter: MPN_RF
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MPNResearch/
About MPN AA:
The Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Alliance Australia (MPN AA) was formed in 2015 by a small group of motivated MPN patients. The patient-led advocacy group collaborates with the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia with the common goal of achieving better outcomes for Australian MPN patients. MPN AA aims to make a difference for all Australian patients through advocacy, sharing of educational resources and supporting research.
Contact Information:
To find out more go to http://www.mpnallianceaustralia.org.au
To donate directly to MPN go to http://www.leukaemia.org.au/mpn
To connect on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MPNAllianceAustralia
Instagram: @mpnallianceaustralia Twitter: @MPN_AA
Michelle Woehrle, MPN Research Foundation, http://www.mpnresearchfoundation.org, +1 773-453-9917, [email protected]
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