GIST Cancer Research

Imagine…Imagine…

……a world in which every dollar a world in which every dollar invested in cancer research invested in cancer research

converts itself into more than converts itself into more than three times that amount.three times that amount.

……an organization of advocates who have an organization of advocates who have created a unique created a unique

approach that makes this approach that makes this conversion possible.conversion possible.

Meet…Meet…

……the Life Raft Groupthe Life Raft Group

The Life Raft Group (LRG) is the world’s The Life Raft Group (LRG) is the world’s leading non-profit organization providing leading non-profit organization providing

information, support and assistance to information, support and assistance to patients and families with a rare cancer patients and families with a rare cancer called Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor called Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

(GIST). (GIST).

One of LRG’s guiding principles is that One of LRG’s guiding principles is that progress in cancer research can be progress in cancer research can be

achieved with these key building achieved with these key building blocks…blocks…

CooperationCooperation

Coordination Coordination

AccountabilityAccountability

Our efforts to date have put Our efforts to date have put this principle into practice.this principle into practice.

Our approach is based on the rationale Our approach is based on the rationale that the cancer patient must have a that the cancer patient must have a

viable and vocal seat at the decision-viable and vocal seat at the decision-making table for cancer research.making table for cancer research.

Although we have tremendous respect for Although we have tremendous respect for our colleagues already at this table—our colleagues already at this table—

those in the clinical research, regulatory those in the clinical research, regulatory and pharmaceutical industry arenas—we and pharmaceutical industry arenas—we believe that giving the patient a seat will believe that giving the patient a seat will

help free our colleagues from the help free our colleagues from the restrictions of their respective positions.restrictions of their respective positions.

Our approach and rationale form the basis of Our approach and rationale form the basis of a new paradigm that can be applied to a new paradigm that can be applied to

cancer research advocacy for other life-cancer research advocacy for other life-threatening diseases.threatening diseases.

Founded in 2006 with a generous start-up Founded in 2006 with a generous start-up grant from Novartis, a realistic and grant from Novartis, a realistic and

realizable five-year strategic plan was realizable five-year strategic plan was created by the LRG to identify the priority created by the LRG to identify the priority

projects needed to overcome GIST projects needed to overcome GIST treatment resistance.treatment resistance.

Novartis CEO at breakfast with Norman Scherzer and Novartis Oncology President David Epstein

We brought together a core group of the We brought together a core group of the world’s leading GIST researchers who world’s leading GIST researchers who identified priority research projects. identified priority research projects.

We created a grants structure designed to We created a grants structure designed to give maximum support to these research give maximum support to these research

efforts, including a 10% cap on the efforts, including a 10% cap on the administrative overhead charged by a administrative overhead charged by a

research institution, which otherwise can research institution, which otherwise can reach up to 75%. This structure enables reach up to 75%. This structure enables

us to get peak mileage out of every us to get peak mileage out of every cancer research dollar—cancer research dollar—producing a 300-producing a 300-

400% return on investment.400% return on investment.

We innovate. We innovate. We inspire.We inspire. We succeed!We succeed!

As we approach our two-year milestone, As we approach our two-year milestone, we are happy to report substantial we are happy to report substantial

progress in implementing nine of ten of progress in implementing nine of ten of our research projects.our research projects.

However, finding a cure for GIST will However, finding a cure for GIST will depend upon LRG raising additional depend upon LRG raising additional

funds—and as importantly—continuing funds—and as importantly—continuing to leverage these funds to advance our to leverage these funds to advance our unique strategic implementation plan.unique strategic implementation plan.

We are at a critical intersection on the We are at a critical intersection on the pathway to finding a cure for GIST. pathway to finding a cure for GIST.

The right scientific tools and the best The right scientific tools and the best researchers are in place. They are ready to researchers are in place. They are ready to

demonstrate how to treat and cure this cancer. demonstrate how to treat and cure this cancer. We have achieved a historic understanding of We have achieved a historic understanding of the fundamental genetics that drive GIST and the fundamental genetics that drive GIST and the knowledge to identify and overcome the the knowledge to identify and overcome the

remaining downstream pathways of resistance.remaining downstream pathways of resistance.

The opportunity to complete the pathway to The opportunity to complete the pathway to a cure is within our grasp.a cure is within our grasp.

Help usHelp us

ImagineImagine