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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240712T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240712T120000
DTSTAMP:20250311T151017Z
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SUMMARY:GIST Awareness Day: A Focus on GIST Research
DESCRIPTION:July 13th\, GIST Awareness Day\, is a time when GIST experts\, patients\, and caregivers come together to educate the public about this disease and advocate for finding a cure.  The Life Raft Group invites GIST patients and caregivers to celebrate GIST Awareness Day with us on July 12th at 12PM ET. During this virtual event\, Dr. Matthew Hemming and PhD candidate Favour Akabogu of UMass Cancer Center will discuss exploring mechanisms driving GIST\, treatment efficacy\, and clinical outcomes\, as well as the importance of patient involvement in rare disease research. An interactive Q&A segment will follow their presentations. \n\nPlease email srothschild@liferaftgroup.org to submit a question ahead of the presentation.  \n\n\n\nPlease note that this webinar is not a substitute for your physician’s guidance and care.\nREGISTERAbout Our Presenters\n \nDr. Matthew Hemming\nUMass Chan Medical School \nDr. Matthew Hemming  is an assistant professor of medicine at UMass Chan Medical School\, practicing sarcoma medical oncologist\, and principal investigator of the SarcomaLab. He received his BS from UC San Diego\, PhD from Harvard University\, and MD from Harvard Medical School. He completed internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Hematology/Oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He has focused his clinical practice and laboratory work on sarcoma and GIST\, with the goal to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies through basic and translational research. \n \nFavour Akabogu\nPhD Candidate \nFavour Akabogu is a PhD candidate in the SarcomaLab through the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School where she studies gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with a focus on identifying novel treatment options. She got her B.A in Biology at Berea College in Kentucky and worked as a Research Associate at Vanderbilt University where she investigated the role of Discodain Domain Receptors (DDRs) in the progression of acute kidney injury to kidney fibrosis. Additionally\, she worked in collaboration with the CDC on understanding the household transmission respiratory disease particularly SARS-CoV2\, RSV and Influenza. She is passionate about healthcare and drug discovery through scientific innovation. She loves traveling\, dancing\, and spending time with family and friends in her free time. \nThank you to our Webinar Sponsors!
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/gist-awareness-day-a-focus-on-gist-research/
CATEGORIES:Education,Events,Webcast
ORGANIZER;CN="Sara Rothschild":MAILTO:srothschild@liferaftgroup.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240618T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240618T190000
DTSTAMP:20240422T182217Z
CREATED:20240422T181458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240422T182217Z
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SUMMARY:Updates from ASCO
DESCRIPTION:The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is an important conference in the oncology community where new scientific research updates are shared. The Life Raft Group is excited to partner with Dr. Herbert Loong\, who will summarize abstracts and presentations that were presented during ASCO 2024 that are relevant to the GIST patient community. Join us June 18th at 7pm ET for this virtual presentation. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. \nPlease email srothschild@liferaftgroup.org to submit a question ahead of the presentation.  \n\n\n\nPlease note that this webinar is not a substitute for your physician’s guidance and care.\nREGISTERAbout Our Presenter\n \nDr. Herbert H. Loong\nThe Chinese University of Hong Kong \nDr. Herbert H. Loong holds conjoint appointments of Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Oncology and Deputy Medical Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also the current and founding convenor of the Prince of Wales Hospital Adult Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Team. \nDr. Loong has served or continues to serve in various capacities in various professional international oncology bodies\, including the International Affairs Committee and the Asia-Pacific Regional Council of ASCO\, the Membership\, Education and Communications Committees of the IASLC. He has been elected as a Board Member of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) for 2022-2024. He is also a founding executive committee member of the newly formed Asia Pacific Oncology Drug Development Network (APODDC). He is also a Board Member in the specialty of Medical Oncology in the Hong Kong College of Physicians. In his appointment as a Registration Committee member of Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong\, he helps oversee the registration of medicinal products and clinical trials in the territory. \nThank you to our Webinar Sponsors!
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/updates-asco-2024/
CATEGORIES:Education,Events,Webcast
ORGANIZER;CN="Sara Rothschild":MAILTO:srothschild@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240522T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240522T110000
DTSTAMP:20240423T174622Z
CREATED:20240422T181945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240423T174622Z
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SUMMARY:Demystifying Clinical Trials
DESCRIPTION:Insights from Experts and Participants\nJoin us May 22nd at 11am ET for an informative webinar presented by Dr. Candace Haddox of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute offering invaluable insights into the world of clinical trials in honor of International Clinical Trials Awareness Day. Dr. Haddox will delve into the fundamentals of clinical trials\, discussing their significance\, weighing the pros and cons of participation\, and guiding attendees through the entire process\, from initiation to conclusion. Following Dr. Haddox’s presentation\, there will be an interactive discussion with GISTer Kandee Evans\, currently enrolled in a clinical trial\, offering firsthand experiences and perspectives. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. \nPlease email srothschild@liferaftgroup.org to submit a question ahead of the presentation.  \n\n\n\nPlease note that this webinar is not a substitute for your physician’s guidance and care.\nREGISTERAbout Our Presenters\n \nDr. Candace Haddox \nDana-Farber Cancer Institute \nDr. Haddox is an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School\, and a medical oncologist and clinical/translational investigator in the Sarcoma Center and the Center for Cancer Therapeutic Innovation at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Haddox’s research focuses on developing novel therapies rooted in sarcoma biology and determining mechanisms of treatment response and resistance\, particularly in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). \nDr. Haddox received her Bachelor of Science in neurobiology from the University of Miami. She completed a post-baccalaureate research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and received her Medical Degree from the University of South Florida. Dr. Haddox completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester\, Minnesota\, and a fellowship in Medical Oncology at Duke University\, where she also served as Chief Fellow. She joined the faculty at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2021\, where she currently sees patients with sarcomas and leads clinical trials in early drug development. \n \nKandee Evans \nGIST Advocate \nWith a career spanning over three decades\, Kandee Evans is a project management veteran who knows how to make things happen. After dedicating 30 years to her profession\, Kandee recently left her job to focus on her health as a GIST survivor and warrior. Not one to back down from a challenge\, she previously advocated fiercely for her oldest son when he was diagnosed with autism at just two years old. Now\, as a devoted wife and mother of two amazing sons\, Kandee continues to take on each day with grace\, courage\, and determination. \nAt the forefront of GIST research\, Kandee is making a difference through participation. She enrolled in a clinical trial with the University of Miami in February 2024\, she is helping test the effects of IDRX-42 under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Trent.  Her selfless commitment will provide key insights and move science one step closer to finding a treatment for this devastating disease. Kandee’s courage underscores the power of individuals to advance medical progress through clinical trial involvement. \nThank you to our Webinar Sponsors!
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/demystifying-clinical-trials-insights-from-experts-and-participants/
CATEGORIES:Education,Events,Webcast
ORGANIZER;CN="Sara Rothschild":MAILTO:srothschild@liferaftgroup.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240430T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240430T120000
DTSTAMP:20240403T191818Z
CREATED:20240403T191818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240403T191818Z
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SUMMARY:Educate Yourself on GIST Research
DESCRIPTION:How to Educate Yourself on GIST Research – Searching the Web for GIST Science Publications\nLife Raft Group Science Team Member Jim Hughes will present “How to Educate Yourself on GIST Research- Searching the Web for GIST Science Publications” to GIST patients & caregivers on April 30th\, 2024 at 12pm ET. During this virtual presentation\, Jim will outline the importance of patients and caregivers researching their cancer in order to best advocate for themselves. Jim will explain the importance of GIST publications and how to effectively do your own research\, and how to work together with fellow community members to share research findings. \nPlease email srothschild@liferaftgroup.org to submit a question ahead of the presentation.  \n\n\n\nPlease note that this webinar is not a substitute for your physician’s guidance and care.\nREGISTERAbout Our Presenter\n \nJim Hughes\nLRG Clinical Trials Database Coordinator/Science Team Member \nJim Hughes attended Kenyon College\, Ohio and Loyola University\, Chicago where he earned a BA in Philosophy. Between schools Jim served as an officer in the United States Army in the US and Vietnam and following his service worked in telecommunications for 35 years. \nJim and Margi are the parents of two children\, Nancy and Jamie. Nancy Hughes Welsh was an early member of The Life Raft Group (2002). Nancy was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma in 1991 at age 23. After ten years of surgery and chemotherapy Nancy was re-diagnosed with GIST in 2001. Nancy participated in the Phase Three imatinib trial in 2001 and the Phase Two sunitinib trial in 2003. Nancy’s GIST was eventually diagnosed as SDH epimutant and passed away in 2005. \nJim serves as a Life Raft Group Board Member\, our Clinical Trials Database Coordinator and is a founding member of the LRG Science Team. \n  \nThank you to our Webinar Sponsors!
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/educate-yourself-on-gist-research/
CATEGORIES:Education,Events,Webcast
ORGANIZER;CN="Sara Rothschild":MAILTO:srothschild@liferaftgroup.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240411T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240411T120000
DTSTAMP:20240403T190917Z
CREATED:20240313T180524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240403T190917Z
UID:10000770-1712836800-1712836800@liferaftgroup.org
SUMMARY:Gaining Insight on the INSIGHT Phase 3 Study
DESCRIPTION:The Life Raft Group is partnering with Dr. Neeta Somaiah of MD Anderson Cancer Center to host "Gaining Insight on the Phase 3 INSIGHT Clinical Trial" for the GIST community on April 11th\, 2024 from 12-1:15 pm ET. During the webinar\, Dr. Somaiah will present an overview of Deciphera Pharmaceutical's Phase 3 INSIGHT Clinical Trial. This study tests the investigational use of ripretinib in a subset of patients living with GIST. Webinar participants will learn about the INSIGHT study\, including eligibility\, site locations\, and study rationale. A Q & A session will follow the presentation.    \nPlease email srothschild@liferaftgroup.org to submit a question ahead of the presentation.  \n\n\n\n\nPlease note that this webinar is not a substitute for your physician's guidance and care.\nREGISTERAbout Our Presenter\nNeeta Somaiah\, MD\nMD Anderson Cancer Center \nDr. Neeta Somaiah received her medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi\, India and has trained at St. John’s Episcopal in New York\, Drexel University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia\, prior to joining MD Anderson Cancer Center.  \nDr. Somaiah joined MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2012.  She has thirteen years of sarcoma and clinical research experience. She is board certified in Medical Oncology.  Her primary clinical and research focus is soft tissue sarcomas\, specifically liposarcomas and GIST.  She currently serves as the Principal Investigator of three investigator-initiated trials and nine cooperative group and industry-sponsored clinical trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center and has in depth knowledge with extensive experience in the design and execution of clinical trials. She also has multiple ongoing collaborations for translational research\, both retrospective and prospective\, that help improve the understanding of these rare group of diseases and explore the role of immunotherapy as a therapeutic avenue.  Dr. Somaiah has been presented many honors for her expertise and contributions to science\, including an Exceptional Women in Medicine award and is among the top 1% providers nationally.   \nThank you to our Webinar Sponsor!
URL:https://liferaftgroup.org/event/gaining-insight-on-the-insight-phase-3-study/
CATEGORIES:Education,Events,Webcast
ORGANIZER;CN="Sara Rothschild":MAILTO:srothschild@liferaftgroup.org
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