Educational project on Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) in multiple myeloma – 2026
Background
Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) is emerging as a powerful prognostic marker in multiple myeloma, providing highly sensitive insights into residual disease beyond conventional measures. Its assessment is increasingly recognised for its potential to guide therapy, inform treatment decisions, and accelerate the evaluation of new therapeutic approaches.
Understanding MRD is essential to optimise patient management: defining its role in multiple myeloma treatment, exploring the various detection methods, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), flow cytometry, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and interpreting the clinical implications for prognosis and patient outcomes.
Ongoing research is investigating emerging technologies and strategies for MRD assessment, including non-invasive approaches and their integration with targeted therapies. Advancing knowledge of MRD can support personalised treatment, improve patient outcomes, and facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.
Format
Recognising the importance of optimising multiple myeloma management through MRD assessment, Sharing Progress in Cancer Care is implementing a focused multistep project.
Phase 1
Advisory & Leadership Team
Carl Ola Landgren, University of Miami, US
Bruno Paiva, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, ES
Jesùs San-Miguel, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, ES
- Two webinars (2026)
Acknowledgements
Phase 1: This activity is supported by an independent grant from Cloud Pathology Group and by an unrestricted medical contribution from Sanofi.
Phase 2
1. A closed virtual task force – 2 July 2026
Faculty
Moderator:
Matti Aapro, Sharing Progress in Cancer Care and Clinique de Genolier, Bellinzona and Genolier, Switzerland
Advisory & Leadership Team:
Sikander Ailawadhi, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, US
Carl Ola Landgren, University of Miami, US
Bruno Paiva, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, ES
Jesùs San-Miguel, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, ES
Experts:
Charlotte Pawlyn, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
Noemí Puig, University Hospital Salamanca, ES
Joshua Richter, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, US
Saad Z. Usmani, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, US
Topics to be addressed:
- From prognostic marker to clinical driver: is MRD ready for routine decision-making?
- MRD testing in the real world: closing the gap between guidelines and daily practice
- Bridging the clinic–laboratory gap: how to make MRD results truly actionable
- Beyond current MRD: blood-based monitoring, new endpoints, and adaptive trials
2. A white paper summarising the key outcomes of the task force
Acknowledgements
Phase 2: This activity is supported by an unrestricted medical contribution from Sanofi. Formal procedures for the finalisation of independent support from the second company are ongoing.
Next Steps
Additional information and updates on the progress of the activity, including the closed virtual task force and the subsequent white paper development, will be shared on this page in due course.