Volume 14 | October 4, 2023

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Our Because Ofs

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We all have our Because Ofs - what motivates us to Make It Better for those suffering from osteosarcoma. Whether it is a dear friend or family member whose struggles you witnessed firsthand, a beloved pet who succumbed to this disease, a patient who changed the way you think about cancer care, or perhaps a desire to help an underserved population, we all have our Because Ofs that inspire us. This month, we share some of our Because Ofs:

• The Greene family lights up their town with gold bows Because of Ian.
• Five years after osteosarcoma hit their family, the Okimoto family has leaned in with purpose Because of Gillian and Because of Ally.  
• We strive to serve everyone in our community and are delighted to host our first OsteoBites in Spanish this month.  
• If you are a bilingual osteosarcoma family, we encourage you to sign up for our Ambassador Agents program.
  

With hope,

Ann

Save The Date

^{Our Community}

Why We Light Up September with Gold Bows

MIB Agents Family Fund holders Bronwen and Michael Greene share why they are asking their local community in Greenville, SC to display gold bows Because of Ian to fund osteosarcoma research.

Thank you for Going Gold with us!

Thank you for Going Gold with us this September! Thanks to our community, bows around the country are raising awareness for pediatric cancer and supporting osteosarcoma programs, education and research.

Spotlight on the Okimoto Family

Gillian Okimoto is an OsteoWarrior and member of the MIB Agents Junior Advisory Board, and her dad Kyle is running the NYC marathon on November 5th to raise money for MIB Agents to support osteosarcoma programs, education, and research #Because of Gillian and #Because of Ally. We asked the Okimotos to share their osteosarcoma story, the inspiration behind Kyle’s fundraiser, and with the benefit of hindsight, their tips and advice for other osteosarcoma families.

Read More About the Okimoto Family

Career Connection‍

1. Senior Research Technician - Majzner Pediatrics Lab
2. Sarcoma Faculty Clinician/Translational Researcher/Physician Scientist at OHSU
3. Postdoctoral and staff scientists in the Curtis Lab at Stanford Medicine
4. Behavioral Health Staff Scientist in the Psychosocial Support and Research Program, Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

If you have a job posting and you would like it included here, please email christina@mibagents.org.

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^EDUCATION

^{OsteoBites Webinar Series}

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Watch Past Episodes and See the Upcoming Schedule

^{Tumor Review Board for Osteosarcoma}

A virtual tumor review board for osteosarcoma, TURBO is open to global clinicians or researchers with an interest in osteosarcoma.  Patients and families are welcome to ask their oncologists to present a case on their behalf.  Join TURBO to request an invite or submit a case.
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Next meeting: November 8th at 5pm ET

‍Join TURBO

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^{SARC Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (SMTB)}

If you can't make TURBO or have other sarcoma cases, the SARC Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (SMTB) provides innovative multidisciplinary discussion for adults and children with sarcoma at any stage of the disease.  The monthly sarcoma tumor board meeting involves physicians specializing in sarcoma across disciplines and may be presented by the physician at any step along the cancer journey. If you have any questions about this form or the submission process please email Lindsey Overman at tumorboard@sarctrials.org.

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Learn More

Osteosarcoma in the News

• Evaluation of prevalence and outcomes of serial tyrosine kinase inhibitor use in pediatric patients with advanced solid tumors
  

• Phase 1 Study of Cabozantinib in Combination with Topotecan- Cyclophosphamide for Patients with Relapsed Ewing Sarcoma or Osteosarcoma
  

• OS Therapies Announces Full Enrollment in PhIIb Clinical Trial AOST-2121 in Recurred, Resected Osteosarcoma with OST-HER2 (Listeria monocytogenes) for Delay or Prevention of Recurrence
  

• Prognostic Factors in High-Grade Osteosarcoma of the Extremities or Trunk: An Analysis of 1,702 Patients Treated on Neoadjuvant Cooperative Osteosarcoma Study Group Protocols‍
  

PROGRAMS

Se Busca MIB Agentes Embajadores Bilingües

El programa Agentes Embajadores de MIB conecta a pacientes de osteosarcoma y sus familias con sobrevivientes y sus familias. Los Agentes Embajadores han atravesado el camino de osteosarcoma y se han dedicado a brindar apoyo y esperanza a individuos que actualmente están recibiendo tratamiento.La mayoría de familias sienten una gran desesperación, como si estuvieran solos en una caverna o en una zona de guerra. Nuestros Agentes Embajadores están allí para apoyarlos. Por favor, únase a este grupo de voluntarios especializados. El primer paso es leer más sobre Agentes Embajadores e inscribirse aquí.

Programaremos entrenamientos por medio de Zoom y en persona en el año nuevo.

Regístrese para ser un Agente Embajador

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RESEARCH

OutSmarting Osteosarcoma Application Opens October 26th

The OutSmarting Osteosarcoma Research Grant is an annual award begun in 2017. Since then, MIB Agents has supported eighteen investigators and awarded $1,550,000 to support osteosarcoma research.  The OutSmarting Osteosarcoma 2024 research grant application will open on October 26, 2023. Applications are due January 26, 2024, with notification in May 2024. Awards include a $100,000 one year and a $50,000 Young Investigator one year grant.  Collaboration among the scientific and patient community is a key hallmark of MIB Agents. MIB Agents OutSmarting Osteosarcoma grants are supported by MIB Agents Family Funds, osteosarcoma patients and families who raise funds in honor of an OsteoWarrior or OsteoAngel. Their dedication to Making It Better and fostering collaboration and education in the scientific community makes every MIB Agents award incredibly meaningful.

Learn More

Osteosarcoma Restricted Funding Call - UK Studies

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Bone Cancer Research Trust & Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony Charity are delighted to be working together to offer funding of up to £250,000 to support clinical or translational projects focused on improving outcomes for osteosarcoma patients. Funding is available to researchers and/or clinicians working in an academic or clinical institution in the UK, however, international collaboration is encouraged where appropriate. As part of this funding call, we welcome applications for funding to support 1) translational projects up to a maximum value of £250,000., clinical PhD studentships, with a particular interest in supporting oncology or surgical trainees up to a maximum value of £250,000., and academic PhD studentships, with a translational focus, up to a maximum value of £140,000.  The closing date for this funding scheme is 5pm on the 13th November 2023 and awards are likely to be made in Q1 2024.

Learn More

If you have a trial that is currently enrolling osteosarcoma patients, please email christina@mibagents.org.

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All MIB Agents programs are free of charge, thanks to our generous donors like you who Make it Better.

Please consider a donation to support osteosarcoma patient programs, education, and research.

                  Donate                           

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