Impressions from Climb for a Cure Mount Kilimanjaro participants

"We have made great progress over the past two decades but we can't sit back and say the job is done when so many CML patients are still not receiving the best drug for them, and so few are achieving treatment-free-remission. With the Climb for a Cure Mount Kilimanjaro 2019 we wanted to do something a bit out of our comfort zone to celebrate 10 years of work by the iCMLf and to mark a new phase ...

"Researchers, patients, patient advocates, physicians and supporters of the Foundation joined us on the Climb for a Cure Mount Kilimanjaro 2019. For me this represents the whole CML community. It's how the community works together and responds together" (Nicola Evans, Chief Executive of the iCMLf)

"I spend my days treating patients with CML and we can treat them sucessfully, but the rest of the world is not like that. We have a bigger obligation to patients in other parts of the world that don't have what we have. I like this focus of the iCMLf" (Kendra Sweet - researcher and hematologist from the US)

"I pledged to do this for me and for all CML patients in Nigeria. CML is not known in Nigeria, the government doesn't know we exist because this is a rare cancer. What I really want to do is to make a change. It might not be possible in a lifetime but at least I will give it a try. It's better than not trying. From there I'll see what happens"(Andy Ojelabi - CML patient from Nigeria)

"The most amazing experience I've ever had, not only about climbing Kilimanjaro, but making this as a group and sharing our experiences" (Katia Pagnano - researcher and hematologist from Brazil)

"The perfect way to meet new friends, discover new places and challenge myself while supporting a noble cause. I would have never dreamed of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. If I can do this, CML researchers can find a cure for CML" (Rihab Nasr - researcher and hematologist from Lebanon)

"Patients do this mountain climbing every day if they have the diagnosis. I wanted to show my small tribute to their daily struggle" (Vamsi Kota - researcher and hematologist from the US)

Climb for a cure 2019 - Ayla, Conny and Yunus Borowczak

"Thanks to effective medication, CML has changed from a fatal to a chronic disease. This is a great achievement and gives CML patients hope. But this is not enough – more can be done!Our children need a healing therapy! This is our highest priority as a family and we want to reach the top and achieve a cure for CML."(Conny Borowczak with her daugher Ayla and her son Yunus - a CML patient)

Concerted global effort working towards a cure for CML

"There are currently estimated to be over 800,000 CML patients globally. CML is predicted to become the most prevalent leukaemia by 2040 when there are projected to be over 3 million patients worldwide. A concerted global effort working towards a cure is imperative.
The iCMLf is uniquely positioned to drive this effort.”
(Tim Hughes, iCMLf Chairman)

With the increasing prevalence of CML a concerted global effort working towards a cure is imperative. As a global organisation led by clinicians and researchers at the forefront of this disease, the iCMLf is uniquely positioned to do this. The iCMLf is increasingly turning to global priorities through precision medicine approaches aiming to improve outcomes for patients with CML.

The iCMLf will drive this effort by bringing interested parties together on specific projects under the banner of 'cure'. The Foundation has formed a CURE CONSORTIUM to focus our efforts working towards a cure for CML. Specifically, we plan to build multicentre global research collaborations to accelerate the development of more effective and safer treatment strategies with the view that these will lead to a cure.

The potential impact of this program is substantial. There are currently estimated to be over 800,000 CML patients globally. CML is predicted to become the most prevalent leukemia by 2040 when there are projected to be over 3 million patients worldwide.

A cure for CML may mean different things to different people, but in essence we want to get every patient with CML into a long-term remission that doesn't require ongoing therapy. We recognise that this will not be achievable in 100% of patients, but we aim to get as close as possible over the next decade. To achieve this, we need the research community to work together effectively. We also need to be innovative and ambitious to make this a reality.

In a first step the iCMLf has launched two Global Alliances:

1. The Genomics Alliance to facilitate data assimilation and sample exchanges and to develop a genome-based risk calculator for newly diagnosed CML patients

2. The Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) Alliance to facilitate global research to maximise achievement of TFR while minimising failed TFR attempts and other negative outcomes

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