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GVHD DAY

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Change. Empower. Connect.

UNITE
TO RAISE AWARENESS OF GVHD

For those of us living with GVHD, CONNECTING CAN BRING SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND COMFORT and remindus—there is always hope.

—Meredith, survivor

OUR MISSION

The GVHD Alliance is empowering the Graft-vs-Host Disease community to increase awareness and help improve the lives of people living with GVHD.

OUR VISION

A trusted collaboration serving as a central hub for awareness and access to appropriate GVHD resources.

OUR PILLARS

Patient Empowerment: We equip people living with GVHD with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for their own care. Through education, peer connection, and practical tools, we help patients take an active role in managing their health.
Education: We provide clear, accurate information about GVHD for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Our goal is to make complex medical information easier to understand and apply, at every stage of the GVHD journey.
Encouraging Shared Decision-Making: We support open, collaborative conversations between patients and their care teams. By offering tools and resources that bridge gaps in communication, we help ensure treatment decisions reflect each patient’s values and goals.
Community Building: We connect patients, caregivers, and member organizations so no one faces GVHD alone. By fostering relationships across the GVHD community, we help people find support, share experience, and feel less isolated.

WHO WE ARE

Here you can learn more about the organizations that make up the GVHD Alliance.

American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT)
The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy^® (ASTCT) is an international professional membership association of more than 3,600 physicians, investigators, and other health care professionals from more than 45 countries. As a leading organization that promotes research, education, and clinical practice, ASTCT is dedicated to improving the application and success of blood and marrow transplantation and related cellular therapies.
Visit
astct.org
Blood Cancer United
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society^® is now Blood Cancer United^®, a leading organization united by the belief that all blood cancer patients deserve longer, better lives. Its mission is to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life for all patients and their families. Blood Cancer United provides community and free trustworthy support and education for patients, their families, and healthcare providers. The organization has invested more than $1.8 billion in research, driving progress that continues to increase survival rates. It also fiercely advocates—at the state and national level—for policies that ensure accessible, affordable care. For more than 75 years, Blood Cancer United has evolved to better serve people affected by all blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and the 100-plus other types.
Visit
BloodCancerUnited.org
Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network (BMT InfoNet)
Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network (BMT InfoNet) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emotional support and access to high-quality, easy-to-understand information about bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell, and cord blood transplant and CAR T-cell therapy.
Visit
bmtinfonet.org
Cell Therapy Transplant Canada (CTTC)
Cell Therapy Transplant Canada (CTTC) is a member-led, national, multidisciplinary organization providing leadership and promoting excellence in patient care, research, and education in the field of hematopoietic cell transplant and cell therapy, in Canada and beyond.

We strive to serve and connect our membership to advance the science and clinical care of patients with blood cancers and other hematopoietic disorders.
Visit
cttcanada.org
Meredith A. Cowden Foundation
The Meredith A. Cowden Foundation is committed to increasing the number of leukemia survivors, raising awareness of blood cancers, and helping the people who live with them achieve a better posttransplant quality of life.

Watch the video

Visit
cowdenfoundation.org
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLINK)
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLINK) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving individuals before, during, and after receiving a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. This means providing education and support to patients, caregivers, and families as they cope with the many challenges that exist from diagnosis through survivorship.
Visit
nbmtlink.org
NMDP
At NMDP, we believe each of us holds the key to curing blood cancers and disorders. As a global nonprofit leader in cell therapy, NMDP creates essential connections between researchers and supporters to inspire action and accelerate innovation to find lifesaving cures. With the help of blood stem cell donors from the world's most diverse registry and our extensive network of transplant partners, physicians, and caregivers, we're expanding access to treatment so that every patient can receive their lifesaving cell therapy.

NMDP. Find cures. Save lives.
Visit
nmdp.org

The GVHD Alliance is committed to supporting every person, in every community, throughout their experience with GVHD.

The GVHD Alliance is grateful to the ongoing support of industry partners.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GVHD ALLIANCE

Discover where and how we’ve been making an impact and keep up with GVHD news we’re excited about.

Spotlight on the 2025 GVHD National Symposium

October 17, 2025

The 2025 GVHD National Symposium, held in Columbus, OH, brought together physicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders for a one-day deep dive into the latest science, treatments, and support for GVHD. As the only conference worldwide devoted solely to GVHD, it offered both a scientific track for clinicians and a patient/caregiver track, giving attendees valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and share experiences.

Advancing the Field at The ONE Forum^® by NMDP^℠

November 6–8, 2025

The ONE Forum^® by NMDP^℠ took place in Minneapolis, MN, and served as a gathering for professionals across the cell therapy and hematopoietic cell transplant community, including the GVHD Alliance. The event provided a vital space for collaboration on the future of blood and marrow transplantation, featuring discussions on emerging research, policy developments, and operational challenges to help remove barriers to transplant and expand access to life-saving therapies.

The GVHD Alliance Is Expanding to Europe!

Date: June 2025

The GVHD Alliance is excited to announce a partnership with the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) to expand the footprint of education and resources to more patients and families worldwide. EBMT will be working with leading patient advocacy organizations in Europe to determine needed support and programming for people with GVHD. Welcome EBMT!

BMT InfoNet Survivorship 2025

Dates: May 3-9, 2025

More than 2,000 survivors and their loved ones celebrated a second chance at life after bone marrow/stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell therapy. Attendees included members with 45 different diagnoses from 23 countries. Over 90% of participants had experienced GVHD after bone marrow/stem cell transplant.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT · ROTATES MONTHLY

June spotlight1 of 1

Meredith A. Cowden Foundation

Founding member · Akron, Ohio

The Meredith A. Cowden Foundation is committed to increasing the number of leukemia survivors, raising awareness of blood cancers, and helping the people who live with them achieve a better post-transplant quality of life. Since 2010, the foundation has hosted the GVHD National Symposium, bringing together physicians and patient families for the only conference in the world devoted solely to GVHD.

Visit cowdenfoundation.org ↗Watch the video

MACF spotlight video

nbmtLINK featured next, July 2026Member since founding· GVHD Alliance

CHANGEMAKER SPOTLIGHT

Here we recognize the efforts of people who actively improve the lives of people living with GVHD.

See our winners below.

Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award Winner

Dr. Shernan Holtan

2025 Winner

Congratulations to Dr. Shernan Holtan, winner of the 2025 Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award. Dr. Holtan is a specialist in hematologic oncology and Chief of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Section of the Department of Medicine at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York. She has conducted extensive studies focused on the identification of novel tissue repair growth factors and pathways in patients with GVHD.

About the Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award

The Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award is given to a health care professional who demonstrates persistent dedication to improving outcomes for patients with GVHD. It is named in honor of Lukas D. Wartman, an oncologist who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2003 and later developed chronic GVHD after 2 bone marrow transplants. Dr. Wartman continues to be a leading advocate for people living with GVHD.

Hear From Dr. Wartman

About the Meredith A. Cowden Patient Advocacy Achievement Award

The Meredith A. Cowden Patient Advocacy Achievement Award was created to recognize advocates who go above and beyond in their efforts to help those in the GVHD community improve their quality of life.

Watch the Video

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