On Saturday, June 22nd, The Life Raft Group hosted its annual GIST Day of Learning event at OHSU in Portland, Oregon. Attendees gathered to learn about the latest GIST research and get support. Some participated in the GIST Do It Walk across the Tillikum Crossing bridge over the Willamette River. Speakers presented new information on GIST treatments, immunotherapy, clinical trials, and SDH-deficient GIST. After a question and answer session, everyone gathered on the rooftop patio to mingle.

The Heinrich Lab would like to thank the Life Raft Group and all of the organizers, speakers, patients, and participants for joining us at this special event. It’s always a joy to see familiar faces and connect over our common goal to find a cure for GIST.

Each year, we look forward to the annual GIST Cancer Research Fund Conference and Luncheon at OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute, not only to share insight about the latest treatments with patients and their families, but to reconnect with each other. In addition to working toward finding a cure for GIST, it’s so important to all of us in the Heinrich Lab to foster a community of collaboration and education for researchers, physicians, patients, and families. We want to express our sincere gratitude to the GCRF for another very generous donation to our efforts to find a cure for this devastating disease.

This year’s conference was highlighted by the special presentation of a cupcake from Dr. Brian Druker to Tania Stutman, in celebration of her 70th birthday. Mrs. Stutman was one of the first GIST patients to take Gleevec nearly 20 years ago, which Dr. Druker developed. We all sang “Happy Birthday” to honor this amazing woman and we want to thank her for everything she’s done for other GIST patients.

Please be sure to watch our special Lab Tour video from last year and
see below for links to the speakers’ presentations:

• Dr. Michael Heinrich – Treatment of imatinib-resistant GIST: the next generation
• Dr. Lillian Klug – Modeling PDGFrA D842V GIST
• Jason Kent, Graduate Student – Deep Mutational Screening to Identify SDH Variants Associated with GIST
• Tracy Havnaer, RN, BSN – How to Find and Participate in a GIST clinical trial
• Joseph Bubalo, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP – Taking a Walk on the Wild Side: Nutritional and Natural Supplements and GIST Therapy