About EMN
Multiple myeloma is a rare and highly heterogeneous hematologic malignancy, and the clinical research certainly plays a fundamental role in the management of patients with this disease. To deal with such a complex scenario, in 2005, a group of European hematologists pulled together to increase their understanding of multiple myeloma and to produce effective research projects and clinical trials. These efforts resulted in the creation of the European Myeloma Network (EMN), a non profit organization.
The bylaw was updated in 2017, and since 2019 the senior EMN board is composed of renowned experts in the hematologic field. As of November 2023, the EMN board includes:
Pieter Sonneveld from the Netherlands (President – Executive Member)
Mario Boccadoro from Italy (Vice President – Executive Member)
Meral Beksac from Turkey (Member)
Gordon Cook from the UK (Member)
Christoph Driessen from Switzerland (Member)
Meletios Athanasios Dimopoulos from Greece (Member)
Hermann Cristoph Einsele from Germany (Executive Member)
Roman Hajek from Czech Republic (Member)
Heinz Ludwig from Austria (Member)
Philippe Moreau from France (Member)
Jesus Fernando San Miguel Izquierdo from Spain (Executive Member)
Fredrik Schjesvold from Norway (Member)
In 2019, to support the senior board, to follow specific projects and more practical matters, and to bring new ideas, the young EMN board was created. After the meeting in Baveno, 3 October 2021, the current composition is as follows:
Annemiek Broijl from the Netherlands (President)
Maria Gavriatopoulou from Greece (Member)
Francesca Gay from Italy (Member)
Maria Krauth from Austria (Member)
Enrique Ocio from Spain (Member)
Rakesh Popat from the UK (Member)
Jakub Radocha from Czech Republic (Member)
Leo Rasche from Germany (Member)
Cyrille Touzeau from France (Member)
Tobias Schmidt Slørdahl from Norway (Member)
Güldane Cengiz Seval from Turkey (Member)
It all started as a small group of investigators, and today the EMN represents the major European, international association in multiple myeloma and related conditions. As for its structure, the EMN headquarters are located in Rotterdam and the EMN central office closely collaborates with the data center and Italian branch of the network, namely the EMN Research Italy. Various countries are in fact represented within this big cooperation, and the EMN is a wide platform that can be used by European investigators to start new trials and collaborative initiatives.
The EMN is the reference organization for multiple myeloma studies in Europe, bringing advantages to all the actors involved in the clinical research. Indeed, physicians can have the opportunity to participate in cooperative projects to increase and share their experiences, as well as to standardize and harmonize clinical practices at European level; pharmaceutical companies can refer to the EMN as general interlocutor in Europe to plan and manage clinical trials with new effective molecules; finally – and most importantly – patients can be enrolled in clinical studies evaluating last-generation and promising drugs, with the ultimate goal of improving their survival and quality of life.
Importantly, various reviews, guidelines and recommendation papers are produced under the EMN umbrella. To collect & better coordinate the various proposals and manuscripts, a Guideline Team is in place:
Monika Engelhardt from Germany
Niels van de Donk from the Netherlands
Francesca Gay from Italy
Evangelos Terpos from Greece
A Protocol Review Committee (PRC) is also in place to evaluate trial proposals to the EMN. For details on how to submit a proposal, please log in and access the Policies & Templates page under the EMN tab.
For scientific evaluation, the committee includes EMN physicians from different countries:
Francesca Gay from Italy
Niels van de Donk from the Netherlands
Evangelos Terpos from Greece
Stefano Spada – statistician – from Italy
A practical and financial evaluation is also performed by:
Sarah Lonergan from the UK
Felicia Barbieri from the Netherlands
Chiara Pautasso from Italy
Rossella Troia from Italy
In the last few years, many steps forward have been made in the research on multiple myeloma, and the EMN is proud to have contributed to the development of successful clinical studies in this field. Big objectives can be achieved only through big collaborations, and the EMN is the network that can make innovative myeloma projects come true in Europe.
Please find below more detailed information.
