Scientific & Clinical
2021 Brian D. Novis Research Grant IMF supports the innovative research by Dr. Eugenio Morelli of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
By Susie Durie IMF President & CEO
In 1995, the IMF established the Brian D. Novis Research Grant program in memory of IMF co-founder and my late husband Brian D. Novis. For 25 years, these grants have been awarded annually to further research in all areas of myeloma in an effort to improve patient outcomes. To date, the IMF has funded 143 of the most promising projects in the field of myeloma, which have made contributions that bring us closer to fulfilling the IMF’s mission – a cure for myeloma. In January 2021, the IMF hosted an online event to award a junior grant to Dr. Eugenio Morelli and to thank Sheree and Ron Pask, and Gina Klemm, who organized the Miracles for Myeloma 5K event that is helping sponsor Dr. Morelli’s research. We were honored to be joined by Dr. Morelli and his mentor, Dr. Nikhil Munshi, the Pasks and their family, and Suzanne Battaglia and Ilana Kenville, who run the IMF’s Member Fundraising Program. IMF Chairman Dr. Brian G.M. Durie expressed how important it is for us to be able to continue to fund such important research projects. On behalf of the IMF, Dr. Durie presented the 2021 Brian D. Novis Research Grant to Dr. Morelli, a postdoctoral fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical
School. Dr. Morelli earned his medical degree and completed a clinical research fellowship in medical oncology at Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy. Under the mentorship of Dr. Pierfrancesco Tassone, he gained expertise in molecular biology and experimental therapeutics of myeloma, pioneering the use of primary miRNA therapeutics of human cancer. In 2017, Dr. Morelli joined Dr. Munshi’s lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he found the perfect environment to pursue his scientific interests. Please see the sidebar to learn more about Dr. Morelli’s innovative project. Eight years ago, the Miracles for Myeloma 5K was started by organizers who had never fundraised before, and now their event is funding its eighth Brian D. Novis Research Grant, this time supported by proceeds from their first ever Virtual 5K held amid a global pandemic. What a bright light in a dark time! Sheree shared that holding a virtual 5K was no easy task. “But, when I was first diagnosed, I made a commitment to make a difference in the world of myeloma, and with the support of my husband Ron and our children, and our wonderful event organizing committee, we did it! Things might be different right now due to the pandemic, but our commitment to myeloma research and our hopes for the future remain constant.” (continues on next page)
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Images from the virtual award ceremony in January 2021: 1. Dr. Eugenio Morelli. 2. Fundraisers Ron and Sheree Pask. 3. Dr. Brian G.M. Durie and Susie Durie. 4. Dr. Nikhil Munshi of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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WINTER 2021
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