Research driven by you – Myeloma UK’s new research strategy
Our landmark research strategy, published today, is driven by people affected by myeloma, and by you – the clinicians and researchers working to improve lives every day. Everything in this strategy is there because you told us it’s what matters most to you and your patients. Together, we can be a community for change.
The strategy builds on our successful track record over the past 25 years which has transformed the treatment and care for people affected by myeloma and helped quadruple life expectancy for thousands for people living with myeloma.
Our research strategy will:
- Accelerate work towards preventing myeloma.
- Improve outcomes for people with difficult to treat myeloma.
- Ensure fair access to treatment and care for all.
- Reduce the burden of treatment and improve supportive care.
To realise this ambition, we’re backing our strategy with a commitment to raising and investing £5 million to fund landmark myeloma research projects between now and 2030. As part of this, from 2026 we will announce annual grant calls of up to £1 million over five years for innovative projects that align with our vision for advancing towards a cure.
New routes to a cure
Commenting on the launch of the research strategy, Shelagh McKinlay, Director of Research and Advocacy said:
‘We know that myeloma is a very individual cancer. Central to the strategy is the balance between achieving better outcomes for people in the future, with the need to deliver change now, creating better and longer lives for people living with myeloma today. That is why we are looking at new ways to a cure. We have committed to dedicated research towards a functional cure for the first time, as well as approaching an absolute cure in partnership with others.’
What we mean when we talk about a cure:
- An absolute cure is when someone will spend the rest of their life with no detectable myeloma cells, without being treated.
- A functional cure is when myeloma cells may still be detectable, but the condition is kept under control for long periods. The right treatment is available, when necessary, but is manageable and has little impact on everyday life.
The new gold standard of treatment and care
The incredible advances over the last 25 years in the availability of myeloma treatments and subsequent life expectancy are creating new challenges for people affected by myeloma.
People living with myeloma told us how important it is that they be able to live their lives while keeping their myeloma under control – and we heard from you about your experiences in clinic, where navigating these challenges remains a constant priority. This is why we’ve put people and personalisation at the heart of this strategy.
Shelagh continued:
‘We want to see a personalised pathway for everyone with myeloma. The research strategy supports work that will change outcomes around treatment burden, supportive care, and psychological support. That means fewer side effects, less treatment to deliver the same or better outcomes and more help with the emotional toll that myeloma takes.’
A world without myeloma
The myeloma community aspires to a world where no one ever needs to face a myeloma diagnosis. Our strategy will develop a better understanding about how precursor conditions develop into active myeloma. By looking at prevention, we can also diagnose more people earlier, before they experience organ and bone damage, and help them live well with myeloma.
Making innovation a reality
We’re investing in clinical trials that will answer the questions that are most important to people living with myeloma, and that larger trials often overlook. Our work with the University of Leeds will ensure that trials are designed not just to test the efficacy of new or kinder treatments and combinations, but also provide the important data needed to get these treatments approved by NICE and available on the NHS.
Shelagh added:
‘Myeloma may be a less common cancer but people living with myeloma still deserve the best diagnosis, treatment and care. Everything we do will be designed to tackle the barriers that prevent people from accessing the benefits that a trial might bring.’
Be part of our research community
Many of you have already been part of the development of this research strategy, and over the coming months there are more opportunities to get involved and help to shape the future of myeloma research.
The Myeloma UK Research Advisory Group (RAG) provide knowledge and expert guidance to our Research Programmes. In line with our strategic goals, we are committed to ensuring the RAG includes a broader range of voices and expertise, now and in the future. Current applications are open until Friday 6 June 2025 – find out more and apply.
We’ll continue to update you about the other exciting work that is under development to begin delivering on this research strategy. Be part of the conversation and stay up to date with our research by joining our Spotlight mailing list below.
Commenting on the strategy, Dr Sophie Castell, CEO at Myeloma UK said:
‘The research strategy is about more than increasing survival times – it is all about giving good years back to people affected by myeloma and their families. Our holistic approach will fund research that seeks to deliver tangible benefits to people today, as well as investing in clinical outcomes in the future. We’re building a vision of a new gold standard of treatment and care across research, clinical trials, and supportive care services. The conversation begins today, please sign up to stay involved as our research strategy progresses.’
Every time we act together, we increase the pace of change. Together, we are the cure.
