The International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation invites you to join us for the IWMF Global Educational Webinar series. Through this free interactive webinar series, you will learn from the best and brightest minds in WM research, and participate in a live Q&A session from the comfort of your own home.
2020
Getting to Know WM: Basics and Beyond
July 22, 2020 International Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Foundation
Jeffrey V. Matous MD - Colorado Blood Cancer Institute, and the University of Colorado. July 2020 IWMF Global Educational Webinar Series
The International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation invites you to join us for the first installment in our 2020 IWMF Global Educational Webinar series. Through this free interactive webinar series, you will learn from the best and brightest minds in WM research, and participate in a live Q&A session from the comfort of your own home. This webinar will benefit newly diagnosed patients and veteran WMers alike with a refresher course on the basics of WM that includes diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment guidelines.
The IWMF appreciates the efforts of Dr. Jeffrey V. Matous for his time and energy to make this webinar possible. The IWMF is able to offer this incredible opportunity free of charge, thanks to the generosity of WM community members like you.
No slides available
September 9, 2020 International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation
Making Sense of the Science of WM sets out a framework for patients to understand the basic genetic concepts behind the mutations that are important in WM, to appreciate the ways in which these mutations impact the signaling systems that control the behavior of WM cells, and to recognize how these mutations are changing the landscape of therapies for WM.
Zachary Hunter, PhD. is an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School working at the Bing Center for Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute under Dr. Steven Treon. There he coordinates the next generation sequencing and bioinformatic efforts for the group. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from Haverford College and a Ph.D. in Pathology from Boston University. He has co-authored over 90 papers on WM, including the initial whole genome analysis describing the MYD88 and CXCR4 mutations. His is the recipient of the Robert A. Kyle Award, the American Society of Hematology Scholar Award, and recently received an IWMF-LLS Strategic Roadmap grant to study the dysregulation of gene transcription based on mutational patterns in WM. His current research interests include familial predisposition, clonal evolution, and signaling network analysis.
Indications for Treatment (IgM MGUS & Smoldering WM)
Robert Kyle, MD - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 2014 Ed Forum
Provides insight into IgM MGUS and smoldering WM, expected progression rates, risk factors for progression, no treatment unless symptomatic or when significant anemia develops
No video available
Understanding Your Blood and Bone Marrow Test Results
November 10, 2020 International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation
Understanding Your Blood and Bone Marrow Test Results will describe the blood and bone marrow tests used to help diagnose WM, as well as explain and interpret the typical tests used by healthcare providers to monitor the disease status of their WM patients.
Dr. Edward Libby attended medical school at the University of Texas in Houston. He was trained in Internal Medicine and Hematology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Although his initial interests were in diseases of clotting and bleeding, his career later evolved into that of a hematologist focused in the diagnosis and treatment of blood cancers. Dr. Libby joined the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the University of Washington in 2011 to advance his research career. His practice and research focus are in clinical trials for patients with multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and amyloidosis.
2021
Clinical trials are critically important to the development of new treatments, and the IWMF has always strongly supported the participation of WM patients in clinical trials. Why Clinical Trials Matter and How to Find the Right One for You will explore the different types of clinical trials and how they operate, the factors that go into making a decision about whether a trial might be right for you, and the tools that you can use to find appropriate trials for your situation.
Neena Kennedy is a Clinical Trial Nurse Navigator for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is part of a team of specially trained nurses focusing on educating and assisting patients with Hematological malignancies navigate and find appropriate clinical trials. Prior to joining the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Ms. Kennedy was a Clinical Research Nurse at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California. In her role at City of Hope, she managed a portfolio of clinical trials and cared directly for patients with blood cancers participating on clinical trials, including Lymphoma, CLL and WM. She has co-authored several papers on Lymphoma. She received her BSN degree from Seattle University, and holds a specialty certification from the Oncology Nurse Credentialing Center. She resides in the Seattle area with her family.
Prior to attending the webinar, you may wish to take advantage of the IWMF’s many publications and other helpful resources found on our website: www.iwmfdevelop.wpengine.com.
Ask the Doctors LIVE: WM and the COVID Vaccine
About the Presentation:
Our IWMF experts will share an update on the status of existing vaccines and others in development. This interactive LIVE question and answer session will explain side effects and recommendations for WM patients.
About the Presenters:
Stephen M. Ansell, MD, PhD, is a consultant in the Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Dr. Ansell currently serves as chair of the Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Disease-Oriented Group and chair of faculty development and recruitment for the Division of Hematology. He joined the staff of Mayo Clinic in 1999 and holds the academic rank of professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
Dr. Ansell earned his MB, ChB, and PhD degrees at University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa, where he also completed an internship in internal medicine and surgery, a residency in internal medicine, and a fellowship in medical oncology. Dr. Ansell continued his education at University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg where he was a registrar in internal medicine. He then came to the United States and completed a residency in internal medicine and then a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Ansell’s research focuses on investigating the phenotype and activity of intratumoral T-cells and developing strategies to modulate the T-cell infiltration in B-cell lymphoma.
Jorge J. Castillo, MD, is Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Clinical Director of the Bing Center for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Dr. Castillo was born in Peru and received his medical degree at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in Mexico City. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Massachusetts and his fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Brown University.
Dr. Castillo specializes in the treatment of Waldenström macroglobulinemia. His research focuses on the various risk factors associated with an increased risk of developing hematologic malignancies. He currently is the principal investigator in a series of innovative clinical trials evaluating highly effective non-chemotherapeutic approaches for patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Dr. Castillo has authored more than 220 peer-reviewed articles and has published his research in The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Blood.
Dr. Castillo is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Hematology, and the Peruvian Society of Hematology (honorary). He regularly contributes to the International Workshop on Waldenström Macroglobulinemia, serving on task forces and scientific program committees for the annual meeting. He also is an advisor to the Steering Committee for the Latin American Group for the Study of Lymphoma.
Dr. Castillo is a member of the NCCN Multiple Myeloma/Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis/Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia Panel.
No slides available
Living with Peripheral Neuropathy: No Easy Feat
About the Program:
This 90-minute webinar will explore different coping strategies and treatment options for those living with the pain and challenges of peripheral neuropathy. The doctors will also address the differences between WM-caused PN versus treatment-caused PN.
About the Presenters:
Dr. Guy Sherwood will offer his unique perspective on the patient experience of living with PN. He is both a retired family and hospice/palliative care physician and a 20+ year survivor of WM. He is the former IWMF VP of Research. Dr. Sherwood currently teaches medical students at the University Manitoba Medical School in Canada. Link to Dr. Sherwood's slides>
Dr. Todd Levine is the Medical Director of Neurology for HonorHealth in Phoenix, Arizona. He has spent 25 years devoted to diseases of nerve and muscle and has published widely in peer reviewed journals. He is also the CEO of Corinthian Reference Labs and the Chief Medical Officer of CND Life Sciences. Link to Dr. Levine's slides>
Joel Rosenblit is an IWMF LIFELINE Volunteer and Support Group Leader for Oregon and SW Washington and a retired labor attorney. Joel has lived with neuropathy since 2014.
Highlights of ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting
ASCO Highlights with Dr. Sheeba K. Thomas will examine the latest information about WM related research featured at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.
About the Presenter
Dr. Thomas is a Professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Thomas is the principal investigator of a number of clinical trials evaluating novel therapies for patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia and multiple myeloma. Her clinical focus is on plasma cell disorders, including Waldenström macroglobulinemia, multiple myeloma, and primary amyloidosis. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation.
Dr. Thomas attended medical school at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts and completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thereafter, she completed a Hematology/Oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research from the University of Texas Medical School. She has been on faculty in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at MD Anderson Cancer Center since 2005.