The Life Raft Group is committed to enhancing the survival and quality of life for people living with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST), and other rare diseases, through patient-powered research, education and empowerment, and global advocacy efforts.
Other Programs Supported by The Life Raft Group:
PATIENT
Leverage patient perspective to drive innovative solutions in cancer research.
POWERED
Educate and empower patients to take a larger role in their care.
SCIENCE
Accelerate research outcomes through collaborative efforts.
FOR LIFE
Increase access to effective treatments worldwide.
Real World Evidence In Action
Traditional models for cancer research have resulted in many breakthrough treatments for patients, but it is not enough. The LRG’s approach to GIST research through real world evidence, relies on timely, accurate data from the patient’s perspective, with patient survival as the primary objective.
RECENT LRG DATA
Did you know that GIST is actually a family of cancers? Learn more about the science of GIST.
Update your Patient Registry Info.
Join The Life Raft Group.
Current GIST Clinical Trials.
Search the GIST Specialist Database.
Dr. Monica Anderson
Diagnosed in 2012 with Adult GIST.
Bella Rocco
Diagnosed in 2009 with Pediatric
(SDH-deficient) GIST.
HELP US SAVE LIVES
The Life Raft Group is a community and it is up to all of us to make a difference. There are many ways to help. We always need patient tissue and data in our GIST patient registry. Volunteering your time or making a monetary donation also helps us drive research forward and save lives.
News
The Faces of We Are the Cure – Teena Petersohn
In December, 2013, the Life Raft Group launched its “We Are the Cure” campaign to fund GIST research in response to the shrinking pool of available funds. As a rare disease, GIST research is impacted more than other more common cancers like breast and colon. Institutions like the National Cancer Institute are funding just four to five percent of all research proposals which means that a rare cancer like GIST is lost amongst the roughly 200 cancers competing for funding.
Cancer Treatment – The importance of patient enrollment in clinical trials
The future of cancer treatment relies on patient enrollment in clinical trials. In a recent Chicago Tribune article, a patient story is highlighted to [...]
Cancer Treatment – The Emotional and Economic Costs
There are multiple costs associated with cancer treatment. The emotional cost of cancer is obvious: fear and anxiety become constant companions. The [...]
The Life Raft Group Celebrates 12 years as a non-profit
It’s hard to believe that 12 years have passed since the Life Raft Group officially became a non-profit organization. We have accomplished [...]
The Future of Research for Rare Cancers
Two recent articles highlight the need to focus attention on cancers that have previously been less widely acknowledged by both funding [...]
Affect Change From The Top: A GIST Advocacy Primer
In preparation for July 13th's GIST Awareness Day we have invited top advocates to share their best strategies on how to campaign for change and raise awareness about GIST.
Epigenomics – A new frontier in research
In a recent article from Biomed Central, the importance of epigenomics and the Human Genome Project and more recent cancer- focused initiatives [...]
Results from collaborative trial announced at ASCO
At the recent American Society of American Oncology Meeting (ASCO), Dr. George Demetri, Director of the Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, [...]
Keep up with the latest news, events, and opportunities to help.
To contact The Life Raft Group, please call 973-837-9092
PARTNERS & AFFILIATIONS
