We are pleased to share an update on the iCMLf’s Genomics and TFR Alliances. 2022 has been a great year of progress for them both:

1. The iCMLf Genomics Alliance has made good headway with 12 sites from 10 countries in the process of submitting data for the research project, ‘Investigating Clonal Hierarchy in CML’. With this global data we will use the enhanced statistical power as a means to understand the impact of genomic variation on treatment response for patients with CML. 4 sites have now finalised their data upload. 

2. The iCMLf TFR Alliance is following closely. Site selection for the study titled 'Use of big data to identify optimal treatment pathways leading to successful treatment-free remission in CML is underway. In fact, we have the Phase I site initiation meeting today! Data from this project will allow us to effectively evaluate multiple factors that likely predict and influence a successful TKI discontinuation for patients with CML.

3. We are excited to officially announce our partnership with the HARMONY Alliance! This partnership will change the way we can analyse scientific data on a global scale and will assist us in understanding causation and effect using Big Data as a means of improving treatment and quality of care for CML patients. Both iCMLf Alliance projects will utilise the HARMONY PLUS Big Data platform.

The steps we are taking with our Alliances, and the partnership with HARMONY PLUS, all contribute to our concerted effort in working towards a CML cure through the iCMLf CURE Consortium. This consortium was formed by the iCMLf in 2012 to focus our efforts working towards a cure for CML on a global scale forming worldwide collaborations on research projects under the banner of 'cure'. Funds raised through our ‘Climb for a Cure Annapurna 2023’ will support these projects.

The iCMLf Genomics Alliance

In 2022 the iCMLf, through the Foundation’s Genomics Alliance, has partnered with HARMONY Plus to establish a CML database to upload and analyze multicentre genomic data. This shared database will facilitate the pooling of mutational data to enhance statistical power as a means to understand the impact of genomic variation on treatment response for patients with CML. This data falls within the iCMLf Genomics Alliance research project, ‘Investigating Clonal Hierarchy in CML’ which, with the data gathered, will investigate if certain mutations are associated with an increased risk in terms of TKI response and progression and how this knowledge could influence our therapeutic decision-making. Our overall and ultimate goal of this research project is to improve CML management and patient outcomes.

We have 12 sites from 10 countries uploading data for this project. Four sites have completed their data upload, which is currently being harmonized and mapped. We look forward to other sites following closely and with two statasticians undergoing Harmony training, we are working towards the analysis of first data towards the end of 2022.

The iCMLf TFR Alliance

The iCMLf TFR Alliance aims to maximize achievement of TFR while minimizing failed TFR attempts and other negative outcomes. We now have over 40 collaborators from 21 countries across the world contributing data and research as part of the TFR Alliance.

In 2022 we’re excited to share that there are even more BIG things happening for the TFR Alliance, as through Big Data collection we now enter our next stage. The research proposal for the iCMLf TFR Alliance and global TFR registry has officially been accepted by HARMONY PLUS! The project: 'Use of big data to identify optimal treatment pathways leading to successful treatment-free remission in CML' has a key objective to evaluate a multitude of factors that likely predict and influence successful TKI discontinuation for patients with CML. This evaluation will be conducted utilising updated and novel epidemiological approaches to accumulate and analyse “big data” in a wide collaborative international effort from multiple contributors within the iCMLf TFR Alliance. There are currently 24 sites from 16 countries participating in the global TFR registry and beginning the process of signing data sharing agreements with HARMONY.

We look forward to updating you about the iCMLf Genomics Alliance and the iCMLf TFR Alliance as we receive the data from the extensive research that is planned.

If you are interested in finding out more, or participating in our Alliances please contact info@cml-foundation.org.