The Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD $35,000 Recipient – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Graft-versus-host disease, also known as GVHD, is a life-threatening condition that can occur after an allogeneic stem cell transplant, or the transfer of stem cells from a donor, where the donated cells initiate an immune response and attack the transplant recipient’s organs, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. To help support those living with GVHD, Incyte created the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in GVHD, which aims to support the GVHD community in the U.S. by funding two novel initiatives that address challenges faced by people impacted by GVHD, including patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

In 2022, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, in partnership with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, received the $35,000 Incyte Ingenuity Award in GVHD. The award-winning project aims to provide virtual physical rehabilitation to children with chronic GVHD, with a focus on improving aerobic capacity, musculoskeletal strength, flexibility and quality of life.

Hear from Dr. Muna Qayed, MD, MsCR, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University, and Director of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, as she discusses GVHD and her winning project “A Virtual Rehabilitation Program for Children with Chronic GVHD.”

Dr. Qayed is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University, and Director of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Qayed specializes in transplantation and cellular therapy for leukemia and in the treatment of graft versus host disease. Her clinical research focus is in the design and conduct of novel clinical trials in graft versus host disease prophylaxis, biomarker applications and risk stratification. Current work is focused studying microbiome alterations in GVHD, validating prognostic GVHD biomarkers in pediatrics and developing cell-based therapies for application in oncology and BMT. She is currently co-chair of several trials including the use of mismatched unrelated donor options in transplantation for leukemia, and the application of biomarkers to guide treatment of acute GVHD.