By Clinical Research News Staff 

September 10, 2025 | Multiple myeloma is a rare and often fatal blood cancer that has long stood as one of oncology’s most stubborn challenges. In this month’s episode of The Scope of Things podcast, Joseph Mikhael, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), discusses how the Black Swan Research Initiative (BSRI), a global scientific alliance dedicated to finding a cure for multiple myeloma, and global collaborators are making strides in multiple myeloma research and prevention efforts. 

A Global Effort 

The BSRI’s goal is to improve treatment incrementally, as well as to harmonize standards, share data, and collectively pursue strategies that could make curing multiple myeloma a realistic objective. One of the initiative’s most notable achievements is the global standardization of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) testing. By identifying tiny numbers of cancer cells that remain after treatment, MRD serves as a highly sensitive barometer of patient response. Standardized MRD assays allow researchers across continents to compare results and trial outcomes with precision.  

“If every country did it differently, we’d be... [unable] to communicate clearly with each other,” comments Mikhael. “And so, the unanimity of MRD was born.” 

Perhaps the most ambitious project to date is the Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents Multiple Myeloma (iStopMM) trial, the first nationwide effort to study precursor conditions to multiple myeloma. Every Icelander over the age of 40 was invited to participate in the study, totaling over 80,000 participants—more than half of the population. The participants underwent blood screening for early warning signs, such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The trial generated a dataset on how multiple myeloma develops, offering valuable clues about which patients are most likely to progress and how interventions might prevent full-blown disease. 

Global collaborators have also made great contributions to the project. Spain has led advances in flow cytometry, a core MRD. Australia has pioneered non-invasive blood-based approaches for disease detection. Singapore has spearheaded coordination through the Asian Myeloma Network, which consists of 10 countries. In Latin America, researchers are expanding access to trials and therapies in resource-limited settings. The U.S., home to the IMF, functions as a hub for education, clinical trial infrastructure, and pharmaceutical development. 

While a cure remains elusive, the BSRI envisions a future where early detection, precise therapies, and global collaboration make finding a cure for multiple myeloma possible.  

To learn more about the BSRI and the latest news on ChatGPT’s role in trial eligibility screening, a new no-nausea weight loss treatment, and more, listen to the newest episode of the Scope of Things.