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 voices in the
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) community to increase awareness and help improve the lives of people living with GVHD.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) community to increase awareness and help improve the lives of people living with GVHD.
WHO WE ARE
Here you can learn more about the organizations that make up the GVHD Alliance.
The GVHD Alliance is committed to supporting every person, in every community, throughout their experience with GVHD.
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.
BMT InfoNet 2024 Celebrating a Second Chance at Life Survivorship Symposium
Dates: April 27-May 3, 2024 (virtual event)
GVHD Alliance member organization BMT InfoNet sponsors one of the most important educational programs in the transplant community. The 2024 Celebrating a Second Chance at Life Survivorship Symposium featured 34 virtual workshops. More than 2,300 registrants attended from 128 countries, with 54% having had an allogeneic stem cell transplant. It was also great to have 5 workshops offered in Spanish this year!
Learn more
Learn more
Tandem Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT® and CIBMTR®
Dates: February 21-24, 2024
Location: San Antonio, TX
Tandem 2024 The GVHD Alliance attended the 2024 Tandem Meetings (Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy [ASTCT®] and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research [CIBMTR®]). The Alliance sponsored a selfie booth and had a table at the event to help raise GVHD awareness and disseminate educational literature for health care professionals who care for those living with GVHD.
Save the dates for the next meeting: February 12-15, 2025, at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, HI.
Save the dates for the next meeting: February 12-15, 2025, at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, HI.
The ONE Forum® 2023
Date: November 2023
Location: Minneapolis, MN
The GVHD Alliance was proud to receive the Be There Award at the 2023 ONE Forum, sponsored by NMDP. The One Forum is the must-attend event for the blood and marrow transplant community and attendees come prepared to be inspired!
The Be There Award recognizes an individual or a group that has been an advocate for patients, donors, and/or providers. Award winners have shared first-hand experiences and have shown empathy and support throughout the transplant process.
Watch the video
The Be There Award recognizes an individual or a group that has been an advocate for patients, donors, and/or providers. Award winners have shared first-hand experiences and have shown empathy and support throughout the transplant process.
Watch the video
GVHD National Symposium, Hosted by the Meredith A. Cowden Foundation
Date: October 13, 2023
Location: Independence, OH
Once again, the Meredith A. Cowden Foundation hosted its GVHD National Symposium, an event dedicated to sharing news about how health care professionals and advocates are working to make differences in the lives of those living with GVHD. Bone marrow/stem cell transplant survivors and their families had the chance to interact with the world’s leading authorities on GVHD, such as keynote speaker Gregory Yanik, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Mott Children’s Hospital.
Jodi Nelc: 2023 Winner, Meredith A. Cowden Patient Advocacy Achievement Award
Date: October 2023
In October 2023, the GVHD Alliance presented Jodi Nelc with the Meredith A. Cowden Patient Advocacy Achievement Award in recognition of her extraordinary work building community among GVHD patients and caregivers. The award honors an advocate each year “who is making a profound difference in the lives of GVHD patients.”
Watch the video
Dr. Julie Boiko is named the winner of the Suzanne McCarroll GVHD Research Award
Date: October 2023
The Suzanne McCarroll GVHD Research Award was presented to Julie Boiko, MD, PhD, during the Meredith A. Cowden Symposium. Dr. Boiko is a scientist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, where she conducts GVHD research. She’s also a physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she cares for children undergoing bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Her longstanding commitment to bettering the lives of patients, in particular those who develop GVHD, has been both inspiring and meaningful to the community. This award, named for Suzanne McCarroll, a CBS News Colorado journalist and newscaster who lost her battle with GVHD in 2022, enables Dr. Boiko to conduct potentially transformative research that will help improve the lives of patients living with GVHD. It is founded and presented on behalf of the McCarroll family, who were determined to make a lasting impact in Suzanne’s memory.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Joins the GVHD Alliance
Date: October 2023
The GVHD Alliance was thrilled to welcome The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as an official member in September 2023. LLS has made a tremendous difference in the lives of innumerable patients and families. When it comes to GVHD, LLS shares the Alliance’s dedication to supporting patients, survivors, and the community as a whole. Together, we are certain that we will continue to empower voices, raise awareness, and help improve the lives of those living with GVHD.
See the official news release here.
See the official news release here.
CHANGEMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Here we recognize the efforts of people we admire.
Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award
Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award
Stephanie Lee, MD2024 Winner
2024 WinnerDr. Stephanie Lee is recognized by the GVHD Alliance for her research, which aims to improve the lives of bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients. She is a hematologist and blood and marrow transplant physician-scientist who treats patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood and bone marrow diseases. Dr. Lee leads a nationwide research network that focuses on improving the understanding of GVHD, and the best ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.
Dr. Lee (right) celebrates her achievement with
Steven Pavletic, MD, and Meredith Cowden.
Steven Pavletic, MD, and Meredith Cowden.
About the 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
Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award
Lukas D. Wartman GVHD Achievement Award
Steven Pavletic, MD2023 Winner
2023 Winner
Meredith A. Cowden Patient Advocacy Achievement Award
Meredith A. Cowden Patient Advocacy Achievement Award
Jodi Nelc2023 Winner
2023 WinnerJodi Nelc is recognized with the inaugural award for the direct impact her work has had on the lives of patients and families. Jodi’s daughter Victoria lost her brave battle with GVHD in 2014 at age 27, but Jodi has never stopped advocating for the community. The GVHD Facebook Group started by mother and daughter in 2012 continues to connect and support those navigating GVHD, and today has 4.6K members from around the world. The Meredith A. Cowden Foundation estimates that this effort, along with the other endeavors Jodi has launched throughout the years, have helped at least 7,500 people navigate GVHD.
About the 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
Members of the GVHD Alliance with Jodi Nelc at
the Meredith A. Cowden Foundation Symposium.
the Meredith A. Cowden Foundation Symposium.
Jodi Nelc celebrates her achievement
with Steven Pavletic, MD.
with Steven Pavletic, MD.
