When the MMRF was founded in 1998, there were few effective treatments, an empty pipeline of new drugs, and minimal investment into multiple myeloma. As a patient-founded organization, we have worked urgently and the results of our efforts have been significant.

• Four new treatments in four years
• An additional 30 compounds and novel combinations under study
• An improvement in 5 and 10 year survival rates and an increase in life expectancy from 4 to almost 7 years

But, against this progress is the stark reminder that today's treatments do not work for all patients and myeloma remains an incurable disease. That is why we will break down every barrier and seize every opportunity to advance the next generation of better, more effective treatments and bring us closer to a cure.

Our research funding campaign, "3,2,1: Cure," will help us do just that.

The MMRF's 3,2,1: Cure campaign, launched in September 2008, takes an aggressive approach to advancing myeloma research - from identifying new molecular targets for the disease, validating novel compounds and combination approaches, and spearheading innovative clinical trials of novel and combination therapies.

We worked with experts from industry and academia to develop a scientific plan that would result not only in better, more effective treatments, but will bring us closer to a cure. The result: a portfolio of cutting-edge research programs in three key paths - basic science, validation, and clinical trials.

Path 3 Basic Science: Identify new targets for myeloma through genomics and proteomics research.

Path 2 Validation: Identify new compounds and combinations based on high-priority targets.

Path 1 Clinical Trials: Spearhead innovative clinical trials of novel and combination therapies.

We will direct the full force of 3,2,1: Cure toward these three paths. Our goal: $50 million.