MyeTRIAL Partnership – putting patients in the driving seat of improving treatment and care

Earlier this year we shared our landmark Research Strategy which outlined our ambition that clinical trials answer the questions most important to people affected by myeloma and related conditions. That’s why today we’re delighted to announce the MyeTRIAL Partnership, in collaboration with the University of Leeds Clinical Trials Research Unit – which puts people living with myeloma in the driving seat of clinical trial design.

What is the MyeTRIAL Partnership?

Our vision is to improve and extend the lives of people with myeloma, by driving innovative clinical research developed with patients and for patients.

The MyeTRIAL Partnership brings together the patient insight and expertise from Myeloma UK and the incredible track record in myeloma clinical trials with the team at the CTRU. Together we’re building upon the transformational achievements of CARP and flipping the traditional model of clinical trial design and development to put people affected by myeloma and related conditions first. We’ll be working closely with our community to understand your priorities for research and clinical trials. We will then be co-designing these together, bringing in further expertise from the research and clinical community.

Why is this needed?

Clinical trials are extremely important in bringing new treatments forward and in expanding our knowledge of myeloma. Crucially they provide the evidence needed to get new treatments approved on the NHS. But more than that, clinical trials bring hope. Clinical trials are expensive to run and therefore are typically driven by industry or clinicians. But at Myeloma UK we believe that your experience of living with myeloma means that you have insight and expertise that must not be ignored. Our vision is that clinical trials are driven by your needs and that is why MyeTRIAL is needed. MyeTRIAL puts people living with myeloma in the driving seat.

Meet the team

Professor Sarah Brown – Co-Chief Investigator

Sarah is a Professor of Cancer Clinical Trials Methodology and Head of the Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research. Sarah is a leading myeloma clinical trial methodologist in the UK, with a long track record of driving the development of early phase trials that are accessible to patients and produce high quality data.

Associate Professor Chris Parrish – Co-Chief Investigator

Chris is an Associate Professor and Consultant Haematologist specialising in myeloma at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Chris is a leading myeloma clinical researcher, whose works closely with people affected by myeloma to drive and carry out clinical trials that matter to patients.

We are very excited about the launch of this partnership and what it could mean for the future of clinical trial design. We will be sharing more about it in the new year so keep an eye out for future updates.