Dr. Matt Kalaycio on the Importance of GVHD Clinical Trials

Dr. Matt Kalaycio is the Vice Chairman of the Taussig Cancer Institute at the Cleveland Clinic.  He joins us today to talk about clinical trials - the hope they bring, the lives they save, and why they are so important in regards to Graft Versus Host Disease.For example, the popular GVHD drugs Ruxolitinib, Ibrutinib, and Belumosudil   They were found to be effective, thanks to clinical trials Dr. Kalaycio walks us through how that happened.Clinical trials are often intimidating, or even frightening to patients.   People are afraid of being a "guinea pig."  Dr Kalaycio addressed this and goes through all the safeguards around clinical trials, as well as the three phases of clinical trials.This may be hard to believe, but a long time ago, doctors would experiment on patients without their knowledge or consent. Thankfully those days are long behind us, and patients now give informed consent.  Everything is explained to them, and all their questions are answered.  Perhaps most importantly, the patient can opt out of the trial at any time for any reason.Many GVHD patients are offered the chance to participate in a clinical trial.   If you'd like to learn more, the first place to start is with your treatment team.  Beyond that, you can also visit the clinical trials website below.We close by asking Dr. Kalaycio about some of the clinical trials he's currently involved with, as well as what gives him hope going forward.  He's been working with GVHD patients and their loved ones since 1992, and he's had a front row seat for just how far treatment has come. He is compassionate and empathetic and it shines through in this interview.  Clinical Trials Website: https://clinicaltrials.gov/Cleveland Clinic Website: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/Dr.  Matt Kalaycio bio: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff/473-matt-kalaycioOther ResourcesNational Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/nbmtLINK Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINKnbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.Thank you to this season's sponsors:Supported by Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie Company (https://www.pharmacyclics.com/) and Janssen Biotech, Inc. (https://www.janssen.com/)Incyte: https://www.incyte.com/ National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/Check out our valued nbmtLINK resource books, some for sale, some free as downloadable, https://www.nbmtlink.org/shop/nbmtLINK Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINKFollow the nbmtLINK on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/nbmtlink/The nbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  It is crucial to consult directly with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical conditions, treatment options, or other health concerns.The views and opinions expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the nbmtLINK.  Unless otherwise stated in an official policy, the nbmtLINK does not endorse any specific treatments, products, or services mentioned by the speakers. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.The Marrow Masters Podcast is produced by JAG Podcast Productions: https://jagpodcastproductions.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.