Novartis & University of Glasgow raise awareness of rare blood cancers with art led sculpture exhibition

Meet the MPN 10 is a Novartis disease awareness campaign, funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd and developed in collaboration with MPN Voice.

Article Source: Novartis & University of Glasgow
Last Updated: 2 September 2024 13:24

Image Credit: Martin Shields

Marking the start of Blood Cancer Awareness Month this September, Novartis UK, MPN Voice and the University of Glasgow are pleased to announce the arrival of the immersive ‘Meet the MPN 10’ exhibition at the University campus to shine a light on the symptoms of a group of rare blood cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The 10 giant number sculptures, that have been on a tour of the UK, have been exclusively designed by five mural artists, with Stirling-born Artist, Ross MacRae, designing numbers 1 and 6.

MPNs are a type of blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow. There are three main types of MPNs: myelofibrosis (MF), essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and polycythaemia (PV). With MPNs affecting ~4,100 people in the UK each year, it's never been more important to be aware of the symptoms.1 The installation forms part of Novartis and MPN Voice’s campaign ‘Meet the MPN 10’ which features 10 characters that personify the most common symptoms associated with these types of cancers – for example, ‘Night Sweats Nick’ and ‘Weight Loss Wendy’. Visitors to the installation can meet and interact with the characters via an augmented reality (AR) experience triggered by QR codes.

Professor Andrew Tobin, Director of the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre said: “We are delighted to host this important exhibition at the University of Glasgow during Blood Cancer Awareness Month. This exhibition highlights the powerful role of art in enhancing communication, empathy and understanding of serious diseases, such as blood cancers. Since opening, the ARC has hosted events and exhibitions which invite conversations around research and the challenges we face locally, nationally and globally. These conversations are vital to developing impactful research which can change lives.”

“MPNs can affect people of any age at any stage in their life. A diagnosis of MPN brings with it many challenges in terms of overall health and wellbeing, particularly the debilitating symptoms that many people experience, which are often dismissed. More needs to be done to recognise and identify these symptoms early so that people living with MPNs can seek help from medical professionals to better manage their symptoms, and those who are undiagnosed can seek a potential diagnosis sooner.” commented Alisia O’Sullivan, MPN Voice.

“MPNs are a group of rare blood cancers originating in the bone marrow. The symptoms can easily be confused with other conditions and even diagnosed patients can sometimes live with debilitating symptoms, such as fatigue, for a long time without realising that it’s their MPN that is causing these.” Said Dr. Gillian Horne, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in molecular diagnostics and leukaemia at the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, University of Glasgow, and Beatson, West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

“It’s important for people to spot the symptoms early and for those who have been diagnosed with an MPN to make sure they are speaking openly with their healthcare team about the impact symptoms are having on quality of life.”

Marie-Andrée Gamache, Country President, Novartis UK and Ireland added “This unique exhibition is part of Novartis’s ongoing commitment to transforming the lives of people living with blood cancers. By working in partnership with MPN Voice, we’ve been able to use real experiences from those living with MPNs about the true impact these symptoms have on their quality of life. With art rooted in Glasgow’s culture, we’re so pleased to have teamed up with the University of Glasgow to bring the exhibition to here where it can help spread an important message.”

“It's all about raising awareness.” said Ross MacRae, Edinburgh-based artist. “You might know somebody, a relative or a friend, that might have these symptoms and if you go to this exhibition – you’ll also see some nice art but that's kind of the by-product, – the actual importance is to learn and be able to recognise these symptoms so you can check up on people, or maybe you'll feel them yourself. You could save a life, or your own, so worthwhile checking the exhibition out because of that.”

The temporary art exhibition at the University of Glasgow, Advanced Research Centre (ARC), Glasgow, will run from 2nd to 22nd September.Find out more about the MPN campaign here: www.novartis.com

The MPN 10 Tracker website is a useful tool created and funded by Novartis for patients living with an MPN, helping them manage their disease: www.mpntracker.com

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