WHO WE ARE

NTM Info & Research (NTMir) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed on behalf of patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease for patient support, medical education and to help accelerate research.

NTMir serves patients as well as the healthcare providers and researchers concerned with NTM. As a national organization, we can advance a broad agenda more successfully than individuals or institutions alone. Our voice is that of the patients, providers and researchers who comprise our collective constituency.

NTMir and its website were originally started by Fern Leitman, an NTM patient, and her husband Philip. Fern was referred to Dr. Michael Iseman at National Jewish Health in Denver, where treatment therapies succeeded in stabilizing her condition. During return visits Fern and Philip met many patients from different parts of the country, most of whom had experienced delayed diagnoses, were frightened and were often unfamiliar with many aspects of NTM disease. The website was developed to help those and other patients.

In an unanticipated response, the website generated over 2 million hits during its initial period.

People logged on from 22 countries, the United States government and major institutions. There was a need to develop an organization that could speak for patients and the physicians trying to help them. NTMir is that organization.