HealthTree Foundation has been providing patient education and community support for over a decade, two vital pillars of the organization's mission. But perhaps the most important purpose that HealthTree Foundation seeks to achieve is to accelerate blood cancer research. 

Originally known as the Myeloma Crowd, Jenny Ahlstrom began the Foundation with a program called Myeloma Crowd Radio (now called HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma) in which she interviewed top myeloma specialists about their clinical trials to raise awareness and participation. 

In 2024, the Myeloma Crowd is now the HealthTree Foundation, a nonprofit organization with dozens of education, support, and research programs that cover several blood cancers including multiple myeloma, AML, MDS, CLL, FLBCL, and follicular lymphoma. 

The three pillars that make up the HealthTree Foundation's mission include patient education, community outreach, and research. Several staff members cover each of these pillars to make sure that the organization reaches its goal of changing myeloma (and other blood cancer) patient lives. 

However, many people still remain surprised when they hear about the success HealthTree Foundation has accomplished when it comes to myeloma research, and where the organization plans to take their efforts. 

HealthTree Foundation's Research for Multiple Myeloma 

At the end of 2023, HealthTree Foundation had completed 76 research projects with 65,100+ multiple myeloma patients participations with the participation of 78 myeloma investigators. 

You can see other myeloma research stats that the organization has accomplished below: 

• 50 Surveys and Studies Created with HealthTree Cure Hub
• Average participation rate for completed surveys: 667
• 12 abstracts submitted 
• 10 posters/presentations at myeloma academic conferences 
• 5 Peer reviewed medical manuscripts accepted or in review
• 1 3-Year Multi-Site Government Grant Awarded

You can read about HealthTree's multiple myeloma research that we have completed with the support of our community on behalf of innovative researchers here: HealthTree Research Publications. 

Patients within our community contribute to myeloma research through HealthTree Cure Hub, HealthTree Foundation's data portal that contains anonymous information from over 14,000 myeloma patients. They easily (and privately) connect their medical records, complete surveys and studies, and contribute to real-world data, like submitting side effects for certain treatment combinations. 

All of this information allows researchers to quickly gain access to vital data they need to answer their investigative questions. It significantly accelerates the research time that would have taken years if conducted in a clinical trial. 

You can read more about the potential for real-world data research and proposals in multiple myeloma here: HealthTree Foundation Announces Launch of HealthTree Research Hub in Multiple Myeloma

HealthTree Foundation plans to facilitate over 100 research projects from myeloma investigators over the next 20 months in order to accelerate myeloma research and get us closer to myeloma cures for each and every patient. Stay tuned as we highlight our work this month and consider inviting your doctor to participate in our call for proposals.

If you are looking to participate in myeloma research as or on behalf of a myeloma patient, we invite you to do the following: 

1. Connect your medical records to our database in HealthTree Cure Hub today. It's quick and easy, and you can share your records with confidence that your personal information will be kept private. All information shared with researchers is anonymized. We value your privacy and your security. 

2. Stay tuned to our News Site during March, Myeloma Awareness Month. Our goal this month is to help you be aware of research opportunities for you and your doctor. We will publish articles each week with action steps on how to participate and allow others to do the same. Share these with those in your myeloma circles. 

3. Participate in surveys and studies within HealthTree Cure Hub. This can take 3-5 minutes of your time and influence the way that healthcare providers are treating myeloma patients. Join Cure Hub and start participating today.