Eric Low, Chief Executive at Myeloma UK, London, UK discusses how Myeloma UK has been an agent of change and a driver of collaboration between industry and academia in multiple myeloma (MM). He describes the difficulties that have been experienced along the way. He thinks that recently attempts at collaboration have been more successful. Looking to the future, opportunity and rhetoric must be translated into action. Recorded at the 2016 annual meeting of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), held in Copenhagen, Denmark.