MULTIPLE MYELOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Mission Statement
The mission of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure.
About This Cause
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy's diagnosis with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. The mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. The MMRF has played a key role in the progress made against multiple myeloma. The incredible results achieved by the MMRF include: • Six new drugs approved by the FDA in the past 11 years • 26 new treatments studied • Opened a record-breaking 10 clinical trials in 2014 • Nearly tripled life expectancy for patients • First to sequence the myeloma genome • Over 350 research grants funded • 57 clinical trials launched The MMRF is now leading the way, with collaboration from many pharmaceutical and clinical partners, to a future of personalized medicine where patients will receive the right drug for their subtype of the disease at the right time in their treatment. As the world's number-one private funder of multiple myeloma research, the MMRF has raised over $275 million since its inception and directs almost 90% of total budget to research and related programming. As a result, the MMRF receives an A+ rating by the American Institute of Philanthropy and a “Best in America” Seal of Excellence from the Independent Charities of America. Kathy Giusti has received many awards for her innovative leadership. Most recently, she was named to FORTUNE’s list of The World's 50 Greatest Leaders (2014), an Open Science Champion of Change by the White House (2013), and one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME (2011). She has received the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Centennial Medal for Distinguished Public Service, and the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award among other honors. The MMRF and Kathy Giusti have been featured by the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company. Learn more about the MMRF by visiting: www.themmrf.org