Volume 19 | March 6, 2024^‍

We Can and We Will

With Spring just around the corner, we are all about embracing what this season symbolizes - hope, transformation, and growth.  

Please join us in welcoming our 2024 Junior Advisory Board, our largest group yet, with 20 members.

OutBid Osteosarcoma with us March 7-17 and shop our online auction to support our expanding programs.

While our OutSmarting Osteosarcoma 2024 research grant application is now closed - there are still lots of funding opportunities to support osteosarcoma research. Check out our funding directory.

We are less than 4 months away from FACTOR 2024 and can't wait to experience the collaboration and hope that is ignited when this community gathers in person. If you are reading this newsletter, then you belong there!

With so many things to look forward to, we also want to take a moment to reflect on 2023 and all that we accomplished together. Read our 2023 Impact Report to see the power of our community and how we can truly Make It Better when we work together towards a single goal. With all that we each bring to the table, we can Make It Better together, and we will.

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With hope,

Ann

Save The Date

^{Our Community}‍

What We Accomplished Together in 2023!

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We are so proud to share our 2023 MIB Agents Impact Report which highlights the contributions and impact of our entire community. Without you and the astonishing volunteer hours and efforts from many, we couldn’t accomplish much. This work, this mission, belongs to all of us. Making it Better desires the hearts, hands, funds, gifts, and talents of many. Whether you gave from abundance or lack, you are seen, heard, accounted for, and wholeheartedly appreciated by the many whose suffering you are alleviating. Thank you. Your impact is great, and so are you.

Read our 2023 Impact Report

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Register Now for FACTOR 2024!

Register now to save your spot at our FACTOR 2024 conference, June 20-22 in Cleveland. Registration is $335 for individuals and free for OsteoWarriors ages 8-22.  A limited number of Family Fund FACTOR Travel Awards are available for medical professionals. The application is open and due March 29th.

Register for FACTOR

Learn More About FACTOR

OutBid Osteosarcoma With Us!

Join us for our 4th annual OutBidding Osteosarcoma auction, featuring exclusive items and experiences! Our incredible donors who Make It Better for kids with osteosarcoma have contributed generously with wonderful and one-of-a-kind items in Original Art, Home Goods & Beauty, and Unique items & Experiences. We encourage you to share the OutBidding Osteosarcoma auction link and details with your family, friends, and community. Together, we can Make It Better!

‍Bidding opens on March 7th and ends March 17 at 5pm ET.

Shop the Auction

MIB 2024 Junior Advisory Board

We are delighted to introduce the 20 members of our 2024 MIB Agents Junior Advisory Board (JAB) board, led by President, Camille Wahl and Vice President, Max Penzer! Our JAB members are the heart of our organization and serve as a voice for young adults in the osteosarcoma community to help influence the direction of MIB Agents programs, education, and research for the benefit of all OsteoWarriors, families, doctors, researchers, and industry. JAB Members serve a term of one year and meet monthly. In addition to helping build current programs and design future programs to meet the unique needs of OsteoWarriors and their families, JAB members participate in Childhood Cancer Alliance Action Days in Washington DC, represent patient voice in industry and academic patient panels, and create awareness via the MIB Agents osTEAo AYA podcast.‍

Learn about our 2024 JAB Members

Career Connections‍

• Postdoctoral Scholar Position (full-time) - Clinical Orthopaedic Research - UCDavis
  
• Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist - Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
  
• Research Lab Technician - The Mabe Lab/Purdue Center for Cancer Research
• Fully funded PhD Positions in Cancer Research #META-CHIP - University College Dublin
• Alliance Manager - Oncology Collaboration - Count Me In/Broad Institute
• Senior Director, Business Development and Strategy - Count Me In/Broad Institute
• Junior/Assistant Specialist - Leach Lab at UC Davis
• Sarcoma Faculty Clinician/Translational Researcher/Physician Scientist at OHSU
• Postdoctoral and staff scientists in the Curtis Lab at Stanford Medicine
• Staff Scientist - Behavioral health, psychosocial research 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}

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: March 20th at 5pm ET

‍Join TURBO

Osteosarcoma in the News

• Integrating artificial intelligence in osteosarcoma prognosis: the prognostic significance of SERPINE2 and CPT1B biomarkers
• Cell membrane-anchored and tumor-targeted IL-12 T-cell therapy destroys cancer-associated fibroblasts and disrupts extracellular matrix in heterogenous osteosarcoma xenograft models
• Immunotherapy: balancing the risks and benefits
• FSP1 is a predictive biomarker of osteosarcoma cells’ susceptibility to ferroptotic cell death and a potential therapeutic target
• RNA-sequencing predicts a role of androgen receptor and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 in osteosarcoma lung metastases
• Genetic variants associated with osteosarcoma risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Targeted inhibition of SCFSKP2 confers anti-tumor activities resulting in a survival benefit in osteosarcoma

PROGRAMS

Osteosarcoma: De Nuestras Familias a la Suya

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We are delighted to announce the release of the new and improved third edition of the Spanish language handbook Osteosarcoma: De nuestras familias a la suya.  As with all MIB programs, there is no charge to receive a copy, which is accompanied by wonderful OS and cancer resources in Spanish from MIB and our partners!

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Estamos encantados de anunciar la disponibilidad de la nueva y mejorada tercera edición de Osteosarcoma: De nuestras familias a la suya. Como ocurre con todos los programas MIB, no hay ningún cargo por recibir una copia, que viene acompañada de maravillosos recursos en español, sobre el osteosarcoma y el cáncer de MIB y nuestros socios.

Order the Handbook

¡Solicite copias aquí!

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RESEARCH

Research Funding Opportunities

Our OutSmarting Osteosarcoma 2024 grant cycle is already underway, but there are still lots of funding opportunities for osteosarcoma research! Check out the MIB Agents directory of Funding Opportunities. Some upcoming grant deadlines:

• Conquer Cancer/The ASCO Foundation Young Investigator Award (YIA) - Due 3/14/24
• Conquer Cancer/The ASCO Foundation Career Development Award (CDA)  - Due 3/14/24
• 2024 MSTS/Sarcoma Strong Research Award - Due 3/15/24
• 2024 MSTS/Sarcoma Strong Mentored Research Award - Due 3/15/24
• 2024 MSTS/Sarcoma Strong Career Catalyst Award - Due 3/15/24
• SITC-Bristol Myers Squibb Postdoctoral Cancer Immunotherapy Translational Fellowship - Due 3/18/24
• SITC-Merck Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship - Due 3/18/24
• SITC-Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Adverse Events in Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship - Due 3/18/24
• ALSF Reach Grant - Due 3/25/24
• American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant - Due 4/1/24
• American Cancer Society Discovery Boost Grant - Due 4/1/24
• American Cancer Society Mission Boost Grant - Due 4/1/24
• American Cancer Society Clinician Scientist Development Grant - Due 4/1/24
• American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship - Due 4/1/24
• AKC Canine Health Foundation Canine Cancer - Due 4/4/24
• CureSearch Young Investigator - Due 4/14/24

Find Funding Opportunities

Should You Join a Clinical Trial?

Check out a new blog from the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) that reviews questions patients should ask when considering a clinical trial.

Find Osteosarcoma Clinical Trials

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

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