International Myeloma Foundation
Encyclopedia
The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is a non-profit organization
serving patients with myeloma
, a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow
. The IMF also provides support and information for family members, caregivers of myeloma patients, physicians and nurses. The organization focuses on research, education, support and advocacy related to the disease. The IMF is based in North Hollywood, California, and, according to its 2009 annual report
, has a membership of 195,000 people in 113 countries.
, multilingual publications and government advocacy. In 2008, the IMF introduced a web-based Personal Information Management application to help myeloma patients and caregivers simplify and record care and treatment.
project and convening an international working group
of myeloma researchers to collaborate on a broad range of myeloma projects. In 1994, the IMF established the Brian D. Novis Research Grants program to support both junior and senior investigators.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
serving patients with myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
, a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
. The IMF also provides support and information for family members, caregivers of myeloma patients, physicians and nurses. The organization focuses on research, education, support and advocacy related to the disease. The IMF is based in North Hollywood, California, and, according to its 2009 annual report
Annual report
An annual report is a comprehensive report on a company's activities throughout the preceding year. Annual reports are intended to give shareholders and other interested people information about the company's activities and financial performance...
, has a membership of 195,000 people in 113 countries.
History
The IMF was founded in 1990 by three people - Brian Novis, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 33, his wife Susie Novis and his physician Brian G.M. Durie, M.D. Brian Novis succumbed to myeloma in 1992. The work of the foundation continues with Susie Novis serving as foundation President, and Dr. Durie as Chair of the Board of Directors.Programs
Programs for patients and caregivers include educational seminars, a patient hotlineHotline
In telecommunication, a hotline is a point-to-point communications link in which a call is automatically directed to the preselected destination without any additional action by the user when the end instrument goes off-hook...
, multilingual publications and government advocacy. In 2008, the IMF introduced a web-based Personal Information Management application to help myeloma patients and caregivers simplify and record care and treatment.
Research
There are approximately 20,000 new patients diagnosed with myeloma each year. The IMF is involved in a variety of research efforts, which include maintaining a myeloma gene and tissue bankTissue bank
A Tissue Bank, as used in this article, is a term most commonly used to describe an establishment that collects and harvests human cadaver tissue for the purposes of medical research and education....
project and convening an international working group
International Myeloma Working Group
International Myeloma Working GroupThe International Myeloma Working Group was established by the International Myeloma Foundation to provide a forum for researchers to collaborate on cllinical and scientific issues deemed important to the scientific and clinical communities. 134 researchers from...
of myeloma researchers to collaborate on a broad range of myeloma projects. In 1994, the IMF established the Brian D. Novis Research Grants program to support both junior and senior investigators.