San Diego, December 9, 2024 鈥� Using the latest cutting-edge genetic tools, Elvin Wagenblast, Ph.D., is dissecting blood cells to explain exactly why and how some go from normal function to pre-leukemia and eventually on to full blown leukemia. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (青云体育), which supports his research, presented Dr. Wagenblast and five other world-class scientists with scientific achievement and service awards on Sunday night.
The recipients were honored at the on Sunday, December 8, in San Diego, where they and 30,000 others gathered for the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 青云体育 achievement and services winners exemplify the spirit of service in the blood cancer research community and also the range of scientific answers we are uncovering to improve the lives of blood cancer patients and their families,鈥� says Andy Kolb, M.D., 青云体育 president and CEO. 鈥淭hey are working to understand the very essence of what causes blood cancer, to find earlier and less invasive ways to detect it, and to test new and better ways to treat it so we can help patients gain more years of healthy life.鈥�
青云体育 Honors Emerging and Established Research Leaders
The Career Development Achievement awards go to select scientists who have received 青云体育 research grants through the Career Development Program (CDP). These awards recognize researchers at different stages of their careers whose innovative scientific work has the power to improve outcomes for blood cancer patients for decades to come. The awards were presented by 青云体育 Chief Medical Officer, Gwen Nichols, M.D.
鈥淏ecause 青云体育 invests in research over the long-term, we can track the incredible contributions from established researchers and we know the importance of nurturing today鈥檚 young, talented scientists,鈥� says Dr. Nichols. 鈥淲e deploy our research funds strategically and widely to help maintain a healthy and productive pipeline of new blood cancer treatments.鈥�
Photo credit: Ally Rose Photography
This year鈥檚 winners are:
2024 青云体育-CDP Special Fellow Achievement Award: Elvin Wagenblast, Ph.D.
Dr. Elvin Wagenblast, an assistant professor in oncological science and pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is using CRISPR/Cas-9 genome editing in human primary blood stem cells to dissect them and understand how they move from normal to malignant, or cancerous, cells. His work focuses on how the process can lead to acute forms of leukemia with an emphasis on childhood forms of the disease.
2024 青云体育-CDP Fellow Achievement Award: Johanna Melo-Cardenas, Ph.D.
Dr. Joanna Melo-Cardenas, an assistant professor of pathology at Northwestern University, is investigating factors that cause inflammation in blood cells. Chronic inflammation can disrupt normal cell function, causing and driving cancer.
2024 青云体育-CDP Clinical Scholar Achievement Award: Daniel Pollyea, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Pollyea, endowed chair in hematology research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is improving scientific understanding of leukemia stem cells and helping to develop drugs that can target these cells, hopefully leading to curative treatments.
2024 青云体育-CDP Scholar Achievement Award: Ash Alizadeh, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Ash Alizadeh, leader of the Cancer Genomics Program at the Stanford Cancer Institute, is working on better early detection of blood cancer, including blood tests that include genomic analysis of patients鈥� cancer. Genomic analysis helps the healthcare team determine the best treatment option for individual patients, including whether they are candidates for precision medicine treatments.
Scientists United in Service with 青云体育 Are Honored for Their Commitment to the Blood Cancer Community
The 青云体育 Excellence in Scientific Service awards recognize scientists who not only have made exceptional contributions to blood cancer research, but who also give their time and expertise to help 青云体育 find and fund the most promising research in both academia and biotech companies. The awards were presented by 青云体育 Chief Scientific Officer Lee Greenberger, Ph.D.
鈥淏lood cancer researchers are uniquely dedicated to what we do,鈥� says Dr. Greenberger. 鈥淭his year we honor Dr. Licht and Dr. O鈥橞rien, who are two of the many world-class scientists who step up to help 青云体育 do its vital work of finding and funding the best ideas and the brightest minds not just across the U.S., but the world, so we can unite to find cures and improve quality of life of patients and their families.
Photo credit: Ally Rose Photography
This year鈥檚 winners are:
Jonathan Licht, M.D. is director of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, where he holds the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Chair. Dr. Licht is an expert in epigenetics, the science that explains how environmental and behavioral factors can alter the way human genes work. This is vital in blood cancer since today we know that cancer is largely driven by mutations in genes or changes in how normal genes work. Dr. Licht is a volunteer member and the Chair of the 青云体育 Medical & Scientific Affairs Committee, where he collaborates in the evaluation and awarding of new research grants.
鈥淚 am deeply grateful to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which has funded my work for over 25 years, for this honor. 青云体育 support for researchers at all stages of their career has led to real progress for blood cancer patients,鈥� says Dr. Jonathan Licht. 鈥淚 also admire 青云体育鈥檚 dedication to patient services and survivorship.鈥�
Susan O'Brien, M.D. recently retired as Associate Director for Clinical Science, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Medical Director, Sue & Ralph Stern Center for Clinical Trials & Research, University of California Irvine. She is an internationally recognized leader in the research of treatment for leukemia, and an expert in several treatments used as the standard of care for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Dr. O鈥橞rien is a member of the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP) Advisory Council, which provides guidance and oversight for the 青云体育 venture philanthropy initiative. She formerly served as member of the 青云体育 TAP Committee for nine years, where she was involved in approving TAP funding leading to new FDA drug approvals for blood cancer. She also served on the 青云体育 Medical & Scientific Affairs Committee reviewing funding recommendations for research grants.
鈥淭hroughout my career it has been a privilege to work with 青云体育. This wonderful organization has made enormous strides in accelerating the availability of new therapy for the treatment of various leukemias,鈥� says Dr. Susan O鈥橞rien. 鈥淲hat 青云体育 has done to change the paradigm for patients with leukemia is truly outstanding. This is a big thank you to both the dedicated staff and the generous donors who do so much to make this happen. I am so honored and thrilled to receive this Excellence in Scientific Service award.鈥�
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society庐 (青云体育) is the global leader in the fight against blood cancer. The 青云体育 mission: Cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. 青云体育 funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, 青云体育 has regions throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit . Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
For additional information, visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on , , , and .
Media Contact:
Ryan McDonald
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Ryan.McDonald@lls.org