NCI Begins Study Of Smoldering Myeloma And MGUS Patients – The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is recruiting patients for a study aimed at identifying causes of transformation from precursor conditions, smoldering myeloma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), to multiple myeloma. In addition, as previously reported at The Myeloma Beacon, the NCI is looking for relapsed or refractory myeloma patients for a Phase 2 study of AZD6244, a potential new treatment for multiple myeloma. This trial is still recruiting participants. For more information or to participate in either trial, please contact the research nurse, Mary Ann Yancey, at (301) 435-9227 or .

MorphoSys Receives Grant To Develop MOR202 For Multiple Myeloma – The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research awarded MorphoSys $1.26 million for the clinical development of its human antibody MOR202 for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Pre-clinical studies have shown that MOR202 effectively killed blood cancer cells. Clinical trials are expected to start in 2011. For more information, please see the MorphoSys press release.

CancerCare Sponsors Myeloma Education Workshop For Health Care Workers – The latest myeloma research will be presented during a virtual workshop, “Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma,” which will take place Wednesday, August 11, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. EST. Although this workshop is intended for health care workers, the event is accessible and free to the public. For more information or to register, please see the CancerCare website.