What do you most look forward to about attending IMS?

There is an extraordinary amount happening in myeloma today. New treatment approaches are producing deeper and more durable responses, and we are now having serious scientific conversations about cure that would have been difficult to imagine not long ago. Bringing more than 3,000 people together from around the world with a shared purpose of learning from one another and advancing the field is what makes the IMS Annual Meeting such an important gathering.

In your opinion, what are the key topics and data that will be presented at this year’s meeting?

The scientific programme reflects just how quickly myeloma research is advancing. We will see first findings from phase II and III studies, longer-term data from major clinical trials, and continued progress in immune-based therapies and treatment strategies. The plenary programme is especially exciting – it includes research that could inform frontline treatment, maintenance, relapsed and refractory disease and long-term outcomes. We will also continue the discussion around cure: how we define it, measure it and make it achievable for more patients.

Investigators increasingly view the IMS Annual Meeting as a key venue for presenting important new data. The meeting brings together experimental scientists, translational investigators and clinical physicians to discuss how important laboratory findings transition into next-generation clinical trials. The cutting-edge research presented represents the future of myeloma care. Ideas for clinical trials and new advancements in medicine are developed inside our meeting halls.

Our joint sessions with stakeholders including European Hematology Association (EHA) and patient organisations – including MPE, International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), Myeloma UK and Myeloma Australia – also allow us to examine progress from different perspectives.

Why do you think having patient organisations on the agenda at IMS is important?

Patients are at the heart of everything IMS does. Scientific progress is most meaningful when it remains connected to the priorities, experiences and needs of the people we are trying to serve. As a global organisation, IMS brings together clinicians, researchers, regulatory experts, patient advocates and other stakeholders from around the world. Having patient organisations on the agenda ensures we hear firsthand about the priorities and challenges facing patients across different countries and health systems.

It also allows patient advocates to learn from one another and build stronger relationships across borders, helping ensure advances in research. Clinical care and policy remain connected to what matters most to patients.

What are the next steps for IMS working with patient organisations?

Patient organisations have long been partners to IMS, particularly in advocacy and consensus-building. As the field advances, we want to deepen those relationships and incorporate patient perspectives early when developing recommendations, considering policy priorities and defining outcomes that matter in patient care, including quality of life.

The next step is not simply to bring more patient organisations into the conversation, but to create more opportunities for meaningful collaboration. We want to strengthen connections among patient organisations, clinicians and researchers and ensure that progress in myeloma translates into progress patients can see and experience.