Fall 2025
By Brittany Flaherty
Photography by Sam Ogden
Dana-Farber is a global leader in developing new treatments to help patients with multiple myeloma (MM), having played a critical role in developing and testing nearly all of the 19 new lifesaving MM therapies approved since 2003. Thanks to these advances, MM patients now live three- to five-times longer than they did two decades ago. Unfortunately, some MM disease subtypes do not respond to existing treatments, and many patients who respond initially develop resistance to these drugs over time. Because of this, MM continues to exact a heavy toll, claiming the lives of more than 100,000 people worldwide each year.
At Dana-Farber, Paul Richardson, MD, director of clinical research at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, is poised to address the urgent needs of these patients. Richardson and his team are internationally renowned for spearheading clinical trials that elevate the standard of MM care, bringing new hope to patients with difficult forms of the disease. Philanthropy is critical to their efforts, and Richardson has found an important partner in Robert and Dana Smith, who recently made a $3 million gift to continue supporting his advanced clinical trials research. This gift builds on the Smiths’ past support of Richardson’s clinical trials work, which inspired a remarkable four-fold increase in donor commitments to MM clinical research from other supporters. This collective philanthropy helped Richardson expand his team by 46% in 4 years, which in turn led to an 18.5% increase in active MM trials from 2020 to 2024.
“This advanced clinical trials program is the tip of the spear in addressing the most vexing challenges in multiple myeloma.”
Robert Smith
“Our team is determined to develop and refine new therapies and treatment strategies for patients with the most challenging forms of multiple myeloma to further improve outcomes,” said Richardson. “We are profoundly grateful that Rob and Dana have partnered with us toward this goal, and for the entire community that they inspire to support our crucial efforts to help patients and our overall mission to turn the tide on myeloma.”
Expanded clinical trials have helped expedite the delivery of new MM drugs to patients at an unprecedented pace, as evidenced by FDA approval for eight new MM therapies since 2020. Continued support will help Richardson sustain and expand this robust portfolio of clinical trials, expediting his team’s ability to find the next breakthrough treatments.
“This advanced clinical trials program is the tip of the spear in addressing the most vexing challenges in multiple myeloma,” said Robert.
“Translating basic discoveries into more therapeutic options that can improve patient quality of life is precisely where targeted philanthropy can unlock the future of living with, and ultimately curing, this disease. Paul and his impressive team have the breadth of talent, creativity, and the unstoppable will to build on their impressive body of work. These are dollars well spent!”