Practice News
VCS Chosen to Join Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
Virginia Cancer Specialists chosen to join theMultiple Myeloma Research Consortium
The cancer center is honored to be one of only 16 MMRC member institution sites across North America dedicated to multiple myeloma research
Fairfax, Va. (Feb. 8, 2011) — Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS), a 30-physician practice that has contributed to the campaign against cancer and diseases of the blood for more than three decades, is excited to announce that it is now a member institution of the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC).
The MMRC is an early-stage drug development consortium dedicated to promoting and facilitating collaborative research and accelerating drug development in multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. As a member institution, Virginia Cancer Specialists will participate in clinical research activities of the Consortium.To date, the MMRC has advanced 30 early-stage clinical trials. MMRC member institutions also contribute to the MMRC Tissue Bank, which stores bone marrow and peripheral blood samples from multiple myeloma patients and serves as a bridge between laboratory and clinical research.
“Virginia Cancer Specialists already has a long history of committing its expertise and resources to advancing cancer research,” said Linda Anderson, executive director, VCS. “VCS has participated in numerous early and late stage therapeutic trials over the last decade, many of which have developed into FDA-approved cancer therapies. Our researchers have also been part of dozens of publications related to their work. Joining the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium adds to that commitment.”
Before being chosen as a MMRC member institution, Virginia Cancer Specialists went through a rigorous evaluation and was chosen based on both its extensive experience in conducting clinical trials and its impressive reach to the patient community.
“In addition to their expertise in working with patients in clinical trials, Virginia Cancer Specialists brings a true community practice to the Consortium,” said Kathy Giusti, Founder and CEO of the MMRC. “I look forward to them working in partnership with our elite membership to bring patients new treatments they urgently need.”
“Myeloma is a rare disease that we are dedicated to fighting,” said Alex I. Spira, M.D., director of research for VCS. “Our physicians and staff look forward to offering our patients more trials specifically targeting myeloma.”
Virginia Cancer Specialists serves the communities in the Northern Virginia area with nine locations located in Alexandria, Arlington (two locations), Fair Oaks, Fairfax, Gainesville, Loudoun, Winchester and Woodbridge.VCS offers a full range of oncology and hematology services, including clinical research and the use of evidence-based medicine and proactive patient support services. These provide patients with the best opportunity for a positive outcome and help to provide an overall better patient experience.
About Virginia Cancer Specialists
For more than 30 years, Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS) has contributed to the campaign against cancer and diseases of the blood. VCS has nine locations throughout Northern Virginiastaffed by highly-skilled physicians, each promising exceptional care. This care consists of advancements in early detection, treatment, and clinical trials. Offering emotional as well as physical support, VCS is home to the world’s most advanced cancer treatment capabilities. By illustrating the outpatient emphasis of cancer treatment, VCS allows physicians and patients to create an individual plan in a familiar setting.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) is a 509(a)3 non-profit organization that integrates leading academic institutions to accelerate drug development in multiple myeloma. It is led from MMRC offices in Norwalk, Conn., and comprises 16 member institutions: Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas, City of Hope, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Mayo Clinic, Ohio State University, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, University Health Network (Princess Margaret Hospital), University of California-San Francisco, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Virginia Cancer Specialists, and Washington University. The MMRC was founded in 2004 by Kathy Giusti, a myeloma patient, and with the help of the scientific community. The MMRC is an affiliate organization of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), the world's leading funder of multiple myeloma research. The MMRC is widely recognized as an optimal research model to rapidly address critical challenges in drug development and to explore opportunities in today's most promising research areas–genomics, compound validation, and clinical trials. The MMRC is the only consortium to join academic institutions through membership agreements, customized IT systems, and an integrated tissue bank. For more information, please visit: www.themmrc.org.
Media Contact:
Natalie Mellon
Virginia Cancer Specialists
(703) 638-8619
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