Introducing the Recipients of the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD!

The 2023 Recipients of the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University was awarded $100,000 to implement its project, Smart Help for GVHD Assessment and Tracking.

The mobile application aims to identify erythema body surface area on people with chronic GVHD, which can be a biomarker for mortality. Erythema is a redness of the skin, either in a limited area or widespread. In collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Department of Dermatology, the program will leverage modern techniques in image processing and machine learning to convert conventional smartphone images into pseudo-hyperspectral images that can accurately detect and quantify erythema in a range of Fitzpatrick skin types, which is a skin tone scale developed to classify skin coloring. Hyperspectral imaging is a technique that analyzes a wide spectrum of light, rather than the typical method of assigning primary colors (red, green, blue) to each pixel, with the purpose of identifying and gathering detailed information. Through the analysis of these images, this project will allow people with GVHD to effectively track their disease and detect change in a remote setting.

Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions was awarded $35,000 to implement its project, Supportive Care Intervention to Address Employment Concerns for Patients Living with Chronic GVHD.

The program aims to help support the development and evaluation of a work support intervention program designed to identify and address the employment challenges of people living with GVHD. In collaboration with MGH Cancer Center, the goal of this project is to become the first evidence-based intervention to help people with GVHD address employment challenges and subsequently improve quality of life.

The 2022 Recipients of the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center was awarded $100,000 to implement its project, Addressing the Gaps in Education for Children and Young Adults With Chronic GVHD.

This study will assess the specific barriers to academic performance in children and young adults of school/college going ages with chronic GVHD. The study will evaluate the academic performance of 20 individuals with chronic GVHD and compare them against 20 peers without chronic GVHD.

Once barriers are identified, the initiative will generate targeted interventions that address these gaps in educational resources for these children and young adults.

2022 award recipient, Pooja Khandelwal, MD, explains her experience with the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD program and her award-winning project.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta was awarded $35,000 to implement its project, A Virtual Rehabilitation Program for Children With Chronic GVHD.

The virtual rehabilitation program aims to provide easy access to physical fitness to improve exercise adherence, aerobic capacity, musculoskeletal strength and flexibility, and ultimately, quality of life in children living with chronic GVHD. Studies have shown that physical rehabilitation is often inadequately addressed in comprehensive chronic GVHD care. This proposal will address the need for physical rehabilitation for these children and tackle limiting barriers they face, such as exposure and risk of infection, given the virtual environment.

The 2021 Recipients of the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was awarded $100,000 to implement its project, the GVHD-Focused Telehealth Clinic.

The GVHD-Focused Telehealth Clinic addressed inequities and expanded access to GVHD care, through a multispecialty GVHD telehealth clinic for adult and pediatric patients with GVHD. This telehealth clinic improved patient access to GVHD management and thereby improved their quality of life. The project served a wider and more diverse population of people with GVHD.

The clinic served multiple adults and children with more than 300 visits, nearly 30% of which were through virtual telemedicine visits. Notably, the clinic was able to provide consistent care to patients during COVID spikes and patients reported overall improvements to fatigue, sleep and work after participating in the clinic.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is planning to expand the clinic to additional cities with partners in Chicago and Miami.

Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation

Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation was awarded $35,000 to implement its project, GVHD Interactive Provider Network.

GVHD Interactive Provider Network addressed the need for expert advice and mentoring by creating a space for disease specialists to connect with community-based providers. Through this network, these healthcare providers shared expertise and discussed cases in order to improve care for patients with chronic GVHD, especially in practices outside of major academic centers. The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation used proven adult learning techniques and interactive video technology to help healthcare professionals gain the expertise needed to care for those with GVHD.

Feedback from participants who completed surveys indicated the project was a success, as 100% of those surveyed agreed or strongly agreed the program will help improve patient care. Overall, more than 300 participants registered for the sessions from a total of 30 countries.

The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation is planning to continue to organize this network in 2023.

The Inaugural Recipient of the Incyte Ingenuity Award in GVHD

Massachusetts General Cancer Center

In September of 2020, Massachusetts General Cancer Center was awarded $100,000 to implement its project, Horizon Mobile App for Patients with GVHD.

This project developed a patient-centered, multi-component mobile intervention app that aims to improve the quality of life and care of patients with chronic GVHD. The app consists of an educational game, which allows a patient character to navigate through a journey as they cope with their chronic GVHD and monitor their progress.

Horizon Mobile App for Patients with Chronic GVHD was selected by the judges because it embodies the core mission of the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD program in fostering collaboration with the community to improve the lives of those living with GVHD.

In particular, the judges noted that this project was the most well-developed application with a clear objective and realistic approach to improving the GVHD patient experience.

Since being awarded, Massachusetts General Cancer Center successfully piloted their app and is now seeking FDA approval to continue to use it as a therapeutic agent.

2020 award recipient, Areej El-Jawahri, MD, explains her award-winning project and her experience working with GVHD patients.