IMF Launches US Myeloma Network to Accelerate Clinical Trials, Expand Access, and Improve Patient Care
By: JNCCN 360 Staff
Posted: Friday, October 23, 2026
The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) has announced the launch of the US Myeloma Network (USMN)—a first-of-its-kind national clinical research network designed to accelerate the prevention and cure of multiple myeloma by advancing scientific discovery, expanding access to clinical trials, and ensuring more patients benefit from breakthrough therapies. Johnson & Johnson joins this initiative as the network’s first industry collaborator. The USMN will focus on clinical trials with the potential to change clinical practice across care settings, accelerating the delivery of innovative therapies and new treatment approaches to patients.
The USMN connects leading academic centers, community oncology practices, and industry partners through a coordinated national infrastructure designed to streamline trial activation, reduce operational barriers, expand equitable access to clinical trials, and accelerate the development of more effective therapies across the continuum of myeloma care—from prevention and early intervention through relapsed and refractory disease.
"The future of myeloma depends on our ability to bring scientific innovation to patients more quickly and more equitably," said S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, and Chairperson of the IMF. "The [USMN] creates an unprecedented opportunity to unite investigators across the country through a coordinated research infrastructure that accelerates clinical trials, expands patient participation, and advances the discoveries that will ultimately lead to the prevention—and one day the cure—of multiple myeloma."
Expanding equity in clinical research is a foundational principle of the USMN. Beyond increasing the availability of clinical trials, the network is committed to ensuring patients understand and can confidently participate in research through culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate education and community engagement designed in partnership with populations that have historically faced barriers to trial participation.
"Every breakthrough in myeloma begins with a patient who participates in research," said Heather Cooper Ortner, IMF President and Chief Executive Officer. "The [USMN] is designed to ensure that more patients have that opportunity regardless of where they live. By making clinical research more accessible, more collaborative, and more inclusive, we will accelerate scientific discovery, bring promising therapies to patients faster, and move closer to preventing and curing this disease."
A cornerstone of the USMN is its strategic collaboration with Sarah Cannon Development Innovations, LLC, which is Sarah Cannon Research Institute’s (SCRI) CRO. Combining the IMF’s internationally recognized scientific leadership, patient trust, and global research collaborations with Sarah Cannon Development Innovations’ expertise in complex oncology trials establishes a powerful national research infrastructure capable of launching innovative studies faster, expanding equitable access to clinical trials, and accelerating progress for myeloma patients.
"The USMN and SCRI share a common goal: expand access to innovative clinical research and bring promising therapies to patients faster,” said Marcy Vallone, Senior Vice President of Sarah Cannon Development Innovations. “As an oncology-dedicated CRO, we are honored to support this important initiative by providing the infrastructure and operational expertise needed to deliver clinical trials across participating USMN sites. Together, we are creating more opportunities for patients, helping advance the next generation of therapies for multiple myeloma."
