There are many conditions which can be cured or at least ameliorated with a stem cell transplant or an organ transplant. But even when the right donor is available, and the transplant goes well, danger lurks in the form of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a life-threatening condition which occurs when donor stem cells attack the transplant recipient’s organs.

Graft-versus-host disease can be acute or chronic and can affect the skin, the GI tract and the liver causing distressing symptoms and illness that can be fatal. Other organs, such has the lungs may also be involved.

Incyte, A Global Biotechnology Company has supported innovation in dealing with graft-versus-host disease by providing incentive grant awards.

“The awards aim to encourage collaboration and foster innovative solutions to support those impacted by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).”

Notable Outcomes of Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD:

• An intervention app featuring educational games to help chronic GVHD (cGVHD) patients monitor their progress, developed by Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, which is seeking FDA breakthrough designation for the app as a digital therapeutic.
• Establishment of a virtual clinic by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that expanded access and care during the COVID-19 pandemic, which treated more than 300 patients and is now expanding services to other major cities.
• Creation of an interactive network by the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation connecting GVHD specialists with community providers that had more than 300 HCPs participate from 30 countries.
• A study by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center that evaluates the specific barriers to academic performance in children with cGVHD

The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, A Patient Worthy partner, has been a valuable asset in helping patients from many countries connect with a qualified physician, but more needs to be done to make expert care more accessible. Hopefully the continuous support by Incyte may lead to refined prophylactic measures for the prevention of GVHD and new protocols in treatment as well.

Interested in entering for the Incyte Ingenuity Awards? Learn more here.