Annie Achee

Annie Achee,  currently co-chair of the SARC Research Advocacy Council, has been the President of the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation (NLMSF) since 2015.  Additionally, she is a co-founder of the Sarcoma Coalition, with Rein In Sarcoma, which launched in 2017,  in collaboration with the principal founder Denise Reinke. Annie is a member of the Coalition Steering Committee. Annie and her husband Dr. Mitch Achee, an LMS survivor, have dedicated themselves to supporting the sarcoma community, assisting patients and families all over the world, coordinating patient programs throughout the USA at sarcoma centers of excellence annually, along with monthly virtual programs.

The National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation’s mission and purpose is to support the patient and family community through education / advocacy, research advocacy and annual funding for LMS -specific research.  The Foundation also provides annual acknowledgement young investigators with two awards:  The Early Career Award and the Dr. Brian Van Tine Early Career Faculty Award for LMS Research Excellence.

In 2018 The International LMS Research Roundtable was founded by the NLMSF, with subsequent partnership with SPAGN for global research collaboration within the Roundtable – with five working groups under its umbrella:  Clinical Trials, Gynecology, PDX Models/Cells Lines, Omics, an Strategic Imaging.

The NLMSF is involved in several research organizations, including the NCI Sarcoma Steering Committee / Patient Advocacy Committee,  FDA CDRH Patient Engagement Program, PCORI Patient Ambassador Program, Rare Cancer Patient Advocacy Panel with Dr. Jesse Boehm, the Count Me In Project,  International Cancer Advocacy Network, AACR, ASCO, CTOS, ECOG-ACRIN Patient Advocacy Committee / cardiotoxicity Committee, Sarcoma Working Group,  as well as being a member of SARC since 2018 and having co-funded SARC research projects.