{"entity":{"id":"life-raft-group","kind":"institution","name":"The Life Raft Group","aka":["Life Raft Group","LRG"],"tldr":"A US patient organisation for gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), started online in 2000 by patients in the early imatinib trials, which supports patients and funds research.","summary":"The Life Raft Group started in 2000, when a handful of patients in the early Gleevec (imatinib) trials began sharing their experiences online; many had been misdiagnosed with leiomyosarcoma before learning they had gastrointestinal stromal tumour, according to its mission page. It incorporated in June 2002 and became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in New Jersey on 10 June 2002. It provides research, education, advocacy and support for GIST patients regardless of their means, including help for patients in other countries to obtain GIST treatment. Its office is in Wayne, New Jersey.","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"The LRG mission and vision","url":"https://liferaftgroup.org/the-lrg-mission-vision/"},{"label":"IRS record (via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)","url":"https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/820547746"}],"tags":[],"related":["sarcoma-patient-advocacy-global-network","imatinib"],"cancers":["gist"],"sections":[],"technologies":[],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"city":"Wayne, NJ","country":"US","lat":40.925,"lng":-74.276,"institutionType":"consortium","website":"https://liferaftgroup.org","programs":["GIST patient education and mentors","GIST research","Advocacy for access to GIST treatment worldwide","Financial aid for GIST patients"]},"route":"/institutions/life-raft-group/","neighbours":{"institution":[{"id":"gist-support-international","kind":"institution","name":"GIST Support International","route":"/institutions/gist-support-international/"},{"id":"sarcoma-patient-advocacy-global-network","kind":"institution","name":"Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network","route":"/institutions/sarcoma-patient-advocacy-global-network/"}],"drug":[{"id":"imatinib","kind":"drug","name":"Imatinib","route":"/drugs/imatinib/"}],"cancer":[{"id":"gist","kind":"cancer","name":"Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST)","route":"/cancers/gist/"}]}}