Faculty
Haifa Kathrin Al-Ali
Halle, Germany
University Hospital Halle (Saale)
Haifa Kathrin Al-Ali
An Associate Professor of Hematology and Internal Oncology and the director of the Krukenberg Cancer Center at the University Hospital of Halle (Saale), Germany.
Her main interest is clinical research with extensive experience in the design and conduct of clinical trials and translational projects in myeloid malignancies (MPN, MDS, and AML). She is the national and international coordinating investigator for many trials, involved in steering committees of national and international multicenter studies, and actively integrated in scientific groups such as the OSHO, GSG-MPN; German CML-Alliance; ELN; ECNM; and EU-STM.
She has several presentations at international congresses such as ASH and EHA.
Research articles have been published in journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, and Leukemia.
Alberto Alvarez
Barcelona, Spain
Hospital Clinic
Alberto Alvarez
Alberto Alvarez-Larrán works as a consultant Hematologist at the Hematology Department of the Hospital Clínic, in Barcelona, Spain. His scientific interest has been focused on the study of the Ph-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), mainly their natural history, molecular characterization, prognosis, thrombotic complications, and treatment. As a result of the activity in this field, he has published over 100 articles in peer-review international journals. His more important contribution in essential thrombocythemia was the pivotal study regarding antiplatelet therapy in low risk patients. He has also studied the role of antiplatelet therapy and the efficacy of cytoreduction according to genotype in essential thrombocythemia. Other aspects of his research contribution include the diagnostic criteria of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia, the influence of genomic classification in disease progression and thrombosis, the dynamics of the JAK2 allele burden and the prognostic value of resistance/intolerance to hydroxyurea. Currently he is the coordinator of the Spanish registry of patients with essential thrombocythemia.
Jane Apperley
London, UK
Imperial College London
Jane Apperley
I qualified in Medicine from the University of Birmingham in 1979 and completed specialist training in haematology in Birmingham, London and Cambridge. Throughout this time I developed an interest in stem cell transplantation (SCT), and by default in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), which was the primary indication for SCT in the 1990s. I also spent two years as a post-doctoral fellow at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, USA, training in gene transfer and therapy. I returned to the Hammersmith Hospital in 1993, given a personal chair in Haemato-Oncology in 2002, and became the Clinical Director for Clinical Haematology at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and the Chair of the Centre of Haematology at the Imperial College in 2003/4. My interests remain the biology and management of CML, and my group at the Imperial College has extensive experience in the use of first, second and third generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, particularly in the areas of molecular monitoring, mechanisms of drug resistance and adverse events. I have a long-standing interest in the impact of haematological diseases and their treatment on fertility, pregnancy and foetal outcome. I have been a member of the ELN CML Working Party since the creation of the ELN in 2004 and have been involved with the ELN Consensus Guidelines since the first recommendations in 2006, initially as the ‘expert’ in SCT. I have also been a member of the UK NCRI CML study group for >20 years. Some years ago we recognised that there were issues in the management of CML peculiar to the UK because of the influence of NICE and the need for financial restraint, and under the leadership of Graeme Smith (Leeds) developed the current BCSH guidelines.
Tiziano Barbui
Bergamo, Italy
Foundation of Clinical Research-FROM, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII
Tiziano Barbui
Tiziano Barbui is professor of Hematology and founder of the Department of Hematology at Bergamo Hospital. He is currently the Scientific Director of Clinical Research Foundation (FROM) at Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo (Italy).
Professor Tiziano Barbui published more than 700 scientific articles in International peer reviewed journals. During the European Hematology Association (EHA) meeting in Stockholm (2013), he received the Jean Bernard award for his contribution to optimization of diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of the Myeloproliferative neoplasms and for establishing international networks for clinical research in Hematology. He currently chairs the European Leukemia Net group on Myeloprolferative Neoplasms.
Andreas Buchert
Marburg, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Marburg
Andreas Buchert
1990-1998 Medical training at the Charité, Humboldt University, Germany and the University of North Carolina, NC, USA
1999 MD Charité Berlin, Humboldt University
2007 Assistant Professor Hematology/Oncology, Philipps University Marburg
2008 Deputy of Director, Department of Hematology/Oncology/Immunology, Philipps University Marburg
2009 Head of Clinical Research Program „Drug Resistance in Cancer” KFO210
since 2013 Professor for Molecular Hematology ans Head of Cellular Therapy Program at the Carreras Leukemia Center Marburg
Ekaterina Chelysheva
Moscow, Russian Federation
National Research Centre for Haematology
Ekaterina Chelysheva
Ekaterina Chelysheva is a leading researcher, hematologist working in the Scientific Advisory Department of Chemotherapy of Myeloproliferative Disorders of National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russian Federation.
She was trained in clinical residency at the Department of Chemotherapy of Leukemia and Erythron Pathology of the Hematological Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, having completed a full course in the specialty of hematology, a full-time postgraduate course later working as a research assistant.
After training course for Ph.D in 2007 she completed thesis on the topic: “The clinical significance of monitoring the minimal residual disease in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).” For full coverage of this topic, she completed an internship at the Laboratory of Molecular Oncology (St. Luigi hospital, Turin, Italy), where studied the Real-time PCR method and verified the results of her own research.
Medical activity is inextricably linked with scientific and pedagogical work with graduate students and residents. Became a senior researcher since 2009, a leading researcher since 2019.
The main sphere of clinical and scientific interests at present is the development and implementation of the new approaches in the treatment of CML, planning and management of CML patients with pregnancy and conducting clinical trials in CML patients. She is an active participant of the CML working group of National Hematology Society of Russia and of CML WP4 working group of ELN. A co-author of the National recommendations for diagnostics and treatment of CML in Russia, an author of more than 100 scientific publications.
Nick Cross
Southampton, UK
University of Southampton
Nick Cross
Professor Nick Cross is Professor of Human Genetics within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton and the Director of the Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory in Salisbury. His research, which has resulted in more than 350 peer reviewed publications, focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies as well as the development, validation and standardisation of genetic tests. He pioneered the development of quantitative molecular assays to determine the response of chronic myeloid leukaemia patients to therapy, and has led the international efforts to standardise these techniques for routine use.
Hugues de Lavallade
London, UK
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital
Hugues de Lavallade
Dr Hugues de Lavallade obtained his medical degree from the University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France before specialising in haematology at the University of Aix-Marseilles, France. He completed an MSc in Molecular Oncology at the Mediterranean University, Aix-Marseilles (France) and his PhD in Immunology at Imperial College London (UK). He has been working as a Consultant Haematologist at King’s College Hospital NHS (National Health Service) Foundation Trust (London) since 2011 and is the clinical lead for CML. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Myeloid Malignancies and Transplantation at King’s College London, UK.
Research interests: onco-haematological disorders including CML, immunology, stem cell transplants
Thomas Ernst
Jena, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Jena
Thomas Ernst
Thomas Ernst obtained his medical degree from the University of Heidelberg in 2004, Germany. After 3 years in Mannheim, Germany, in the working group of Prof Hehlmann, he spent another 3 years as a postdoctoral researcher at the Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory (Prof Nick Cross) in Salisbury, UK. He then joined the Department of Haematology and Oncology (Prof Hochhaus) at the Jena University Hospital, Germany, where he became a specialist in internal medicine and haematology/medical oncology. Since 2015 he is the senior consultant of the department and leads the CML research and diagnostic group.
Research interests: molecular pathogenesis, diagnostics and therapy of chronic myeloid leukemia, stem cell persistence, clonal evolution.
Naseema Gangat
Rochester, USA
Mayo Clinic
Naseema Gangat
Dr. Naseema Gangat is an Associate Professor of Medicine, with the Division of Hematology, at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. She received her Internal medicine and Hematology training at the Mayo Clinic before joining faculty in 2012. Her clinical and research interests are focused on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). She has authored/co-authored over a hundred papers and key contributions to the MPN field include improving prognostication, investigating the connection between mutations and clinical phenotype, and evaluating novel therapeutics. Dr Gangat currently serves as an Associate editor for Blood cancer Journal.
Jason Gotlib
Stanford, USA
Stanford University Medical Center
Jason Gotlib
Jason Gotlib, MD, MS is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology at the Stanford University School of Medicine / Stanford Cancer Institute. Dr. Gotlib’s research focus is clinical and translational evaluation of novel therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms, including JAK inhibitors for myelofibrosis, KIT inhibitors for systemic mastocytosis (SM), and targeted agents for eosinophilia. He has authored more than 200 research articles, chapters, and reviews that have been published in journals such as Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Gotlib is Vice-Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Committee on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Subcommittee on Systemic Mastocytosis, and he led the clinical development of midostaurin for patients with advanced SM, which was approved by the FDA and EMA in 2017. Dr. Gotlib has served on several ASH committees and as Editor-in-Chief of ASH’s The Hematologist, and was Educational Co-Chair for the 2019 annual ASH meeting.
Martin Griesshammer
Minden, Germany
Johannes Wesling Medical Center Minden
Martin Griesshammer
Professor Martin Griesshammer is Medical Director in the Department of Haematology, Haemostaseology, Oncology and Palliative Care at the Johannes Wesling Universtity Clinic in Minden which is part of the University of Bochum. He is also Chair of Internal Medicine at the Johannes Wesling Universtity Clinic. Prior to this appointment, he was Vice Head of the Department of Haematology and Oncology at the University of Ulm until 2008. Under Professor Griesshammer’s guidance, the Johannes Wesling Universtity Clinic in Minden serves many haematological patients, providing outpatient and inpatient services, peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, haemostaseology, oncology and palliative care.
For more than 30 years, Professor Griesshammer’s special research interests are the pathophysiology and clinic of myeloproliferative neoplasms. He is head of the German MPN Study Group (GSG-MPN), a group that coordinates all German activities in this field. He is also an active member of the European MPN Network and has participated in many MPN trials.
Paola Guglielmelli
Florence, Italy
Universita Degli Studi Firenze
Paola Guglielmelli
Paola Guglielmelli is an Associate Professor of Hematology at the University of Florence. Her main interests relate to the myeloproliferative neoplasms and molecular genetics of myeloid neoplasia. Current areas of research include preclinical studies on several cellular pathway as a therapeutic target in myeloid neoplasms. Furthermore, she is committed to clinical work, having in routine charge patients with MPNs and being involved in clinical protocols with novel drugs and in epidemiologic studies. Author of >200 publications on international scientific journals and has provided lectures at several national and international meetings.
Vikas Gupta
Toronto, Canada
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Vikas Gupta
Dr. Gupta is Site Group lead for the leukemia team, and the Director of the Elizabeth and Tony Comper MPN Program at the Princess Margaret. He is professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. He is the founding member and president of the Canadian MPN group.
His scholarly work is focused on advancing transplant and non-transplant strategies for the treatment of patients with BCR-ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Dr. Gupta has led multi-center, international clinical trials and observational cohort studies through partnerships he has developed with the Myeloproliferative Disease Research Consortium in New York and the Centre for International Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Research. He has established a unique MPN Program at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, which serves as a national resource for the care of complex MPN patients and for Multi-disciplinary basic translational and clinical research in MPN. As a result, the program attracts clinical and research fellows from around the world.
Claire Harrison
London, UK
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital
Claire Harrison
Professor Claire Harrison graduated from Oxford Univeristy Medical School and became a consultant at the Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital in 2001, where she is now clinical director of haematology, cellular pathology, and oncology and haematology clinical trials.
The focus of her clinical work is myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), for which she has a national and international reputation. Key areas of interest are clinical trials and associated translational research. In addition to the PT-1 trial, MAJIC, COMFORT-II, JAKARTA-2 and PERSIST-1 where she is currently the global chief or co-chief investigator, she has a leadership role in over 23 clinical trials. Translational research has been supported with a grant income of over £10M in the past 5 years. JAK2 exon 12 mutations, genetic suseptibility and the impact of the order of mutations in MPN. In the past 10 years she has published widely (>150 academic articles).
In addition she has a strong interest in patient advocacy and founded the UK MPN group www.mpnvoice.org.uk.
The clinical MPN service at GSTT is the largest in the UK, one of the largest in the EU and is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence. Our patient population is large with over 1500 patients registered in our service, 270 teritary opinions per annum and 42% of patients registered to take part in research from either biobanking to clinical trials. There is a research team and fully funded study manager to support in house or external trials.
Andreas Hochhaus
Jena, Germany
Uniklinikum Jena
Andreas Hochhaus
Professor Andreas Hochhaus is Head of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology and coordinator of the University Tumor Center (UTC) at the Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. He was awarded the Endowed Professorship for Leukaemia Research from the German José Carreras Leukaemia Foundation in 2007. He has been interested in treatment optimisation of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and has been involved in the management of randomised CML studies of the German CML Study Group for more than 30 years. As co-chair of the German CML Alliance his focus is to enhance access to clinical trials for all patients. Professor Hochhaus’ special interests are the molecular monitoring of minimal residual disease and mechanisms of resistance in CML. He is a member of the European Hematology Association (EHA), the American Society of Hematology (ASH), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He served as president of the Annual Meeting of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Societies of Hematology and Oncology in 2016 and the German Cancer Congress in 2020. Professor Hochhaus has published over 560 peer‑reviewed papers and is regularly invited to speak at national and international symposia.
Jean-Jacques Kiladjian
Paris, France
Hôpital Saint-Louis
Jean-Jacques Kiladjian
Jean-Jacques Kiladjian is Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at Université de Paris, consultant Hematologist, and head of the Clinical Investigation Center of the Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France.
Pr. Kiladjian’s research has centered on Myeloproliferative neoplasms and Myelodysplastic syndromes. Pr. Kiladjian was elected President of the French Intergroup of Myeloproliferative disorders (FIM) since 2008. He has provided educational lectures in several French and international meetings over the years, including at the ASH, the EHA, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meetings.
Marina Kremyanskaya
New York, USA
The Mount Sinai Hospital
Marina Kremyanskaya
Marina Kremyanskaya MD PhD is an Assistant Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY. Her main clinical and research interests are focused on myeloid malignancies. She is a clinical investigator with a focus on translational and clinical research investigating novel therapies for patients with MPNs and AML. She has served as the PI of multiple early and late phase clinical trials evaluating new approaches to the treatments of these diseases.
Nicolaus Kröger
Hamburg, Germany
University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf
Nicolaus Kröger
Dr. Nicolaus Kröger is Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Prof. Kröger is board certified in Hematology-Oncology and Internal Medicine.
Since 2018 he is President of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
He served also as chairman of the German Stem Cell Working Group (DAG-KBT) from 2014-2020 and is member of several editorial boards such as Blood, Haematologica, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Biology ofBlood and Marrow Transplantation. He is also member of numerous Scientific Committees such as ASH, EHA, and ESH.
He has received several awards for his work to date including the prestigious EBMT van Bekkum Award in 2015. In 2020 he was awarded as Doctor Honoris Causa from the University Belgrade.
Prof. Kröger has published extensively in his area of expertise and has contributed to more than 650 publications in peer-reviewed journals such as NEJM, Lancet, JCO, JNCI, PNAS, Blood and Leukemia.
François-Xavier Mahon
Bordeaux, France
Institut Bergonié
François-Xavier Mahon
Pr François-Xavier Mahon obtained a medical degree at University Bordeaux Segalen in 1993. The same year, he was awarded a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Hematology. In 1999, he was researcher at the Imperial College of London. Three years later, he became hospital practitioner and professor of hematology at the University Hospital of Bordeaux.
Currently, Pr Mahon is Director of the Cancer Center of Bordeaux (Bergonie Institute), President of the French Group of CML (FI-LMC), and Director of The research team “Genetic Diversity and Resistance to Therapy: Mammary and Leukemic” in the research INSERM unit 1218.
Pr Mahon graduated in clinical haematology from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Bordeaux and received his PhD for the work on the topic “Selection of normal cells in chronic myeloid leukaemia”. He completed a research fellowship at the Imperial College of London.
His research is focused on the improvement of care and treatment of cancers, especially by the mean of clinical trials: new pharmaceuticals or combinations of pharmaceuticals against the disease or his side effects.
He is member of American Society of Hematology (ASH), European Haematology Association (EHA), French Society of Haematology, European Investigation of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (EICML), European school of Haematology (ESH), The European LeukemiaNet (ELN), international CML foundation (iCMLf), Society of hematology and oncology (SOHO).
Pr Mahon received many awards in recognition of his scientific activity:
- Scientific excellence award (2009 and 2013)
- Henri Choussat Price of OAREIL (Office Aquitain de Recherches, d’Etudes, d’Information et de liaison) (2011)
- European LeukemiaNet merit award (2015)
- iCMLf John Goldman Prize (2019)
- Medal of the City of Bordeaux (2009 and 2020)
He has authored or co-authored more than 250 articles in peer reviewed journals.
John Mascarenhas
New York, USA
Mount Sinai
John Mascarenhas
Dr. John Mascarenhas is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) and a member of the Tisch Cancer Institute in New York City. Dr. Mascarenhas is the Director of the Adult Leukemia Program and Leader of Clinical Research within the Myeloproliferative Disorders Program at Mount Sinai. As a clinical investigator in malignant hematology with a focus in translational research involving MPNs, he is primarily responsible for the clinical trials portion of the Myeloproliferative Disorders Program at ISMMS. Dr. Mascarenhas is also the Principal Investigator (PI) of the clinical trials project within the National Cancer Institute sponsored Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research Consortium (MPN-RC). He has served as PI or Study Chair of multiple investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored early and late phase clinical trials evaluating innovative approaches to the treatment of MPNs and secondary leukemia.
Donal McLornan
London, UK
Guy’s Hospital, London
UCLH, London
Donal McLornan
Dr Donal McLornan graduated in 1999 from Queen’s University Belfast with Honours. Postgraduate training was completed in Belfast with a further one-year period spent in Hammersmith Hospital specialising in allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation. During his post-graduate training he was awarded a prestigious MRC fellowship and completed a PhD investigating drug resistance in AML for which he received several awards. Donal works across London sites– Guy’s for his myeloid practice and he is also part of the consultant allogeneic transplant and CAR-T team at University College London Hospital, which has the largest transplant program in the UK. He has a particular interest in MPN, myelodysplasia, acute myeloid leukaemia and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. He sits on the NCRN MPN working group and is the current chair of the MPN subcommittee of the Chronic Malignancy Working Party of EBMT. He is chief or principal investigator of several national clinical trials focusing on Myelofibrosis. He has authored over 90 papers and has a research interest in the immunology/genomics of MPN and the role of stem cell transplantation for Myelofibrosis. He is a member of EHA, EBMT and BSH. He regularly speaks internationally on MPN, MDS and allogeneic SCT and is supervising MD students within the MPN team.
Mary-Frances McMullin
Belfast, UK
Queens University Belfast, Belfast City Hospital
Mary-Frances McMullin
Professor Mary Frances McMullin graduated from QUB in 1980 and after general professional training in N. Ireland she trained in Haematology in N. Ireland and The Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith hospital, London. In 1991, she was appointed senior lecturer in haematoogy in QUB and consultant haematologist to the Mater hospital.
The clinical post has rotated round the Belfast hospitals but since 2001 she has delivered a specialised service in the Belfast City Hospital in adult acute leukaemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms. She proceeded to Professor of Clinical haematology in 2006. Her research interests include trials in myeloproliferative neoplasms and acute myeloid leukaemia and investigation of rare congenital erythrocytosis. As a member of the Centre for Medical Education, QUB she is academic lead for second year and undergraduate careers lead.
Adam Mead
Oxford, UK
University of Oxford
Adam Mead
Adam Mead is a professor of haematology at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford. He trained in medicine and haematology at the University of Oxford and UCL with Professors Rosemary Gale, David Linch and Sten Eirik Jacobsen. Dr Mead’s research is focused on understanding how the normal haematopoietic stem/progenitor hierarchy is disrupted during the development of myeloid malignancies. The overarching aim of his research group is to improve the management of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), and related conditions through better characterisation and therapeutic targeting of malignant stem and progenitor cell populations. His laboratory has a particular interest in the development and application of single cell genomics techniques to analyse malignant stem cell populations. His group have used this approach to analyse leukaemia stem/progenitor cells in patients with CML, MPN, juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia and related conditions. We are also applying this approach to analyse patients with chronic myeloid neoplasms who transform to acute leukaemia and those receiving novel targeted therapies in order to better understand mechanisms of resistance to molecularly targeted therapy in stem cell populations and pathways of transformation to more aggressive forms of disease. Dr Mead’s research is closely linked with his clinical practice based at Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust where he is Clinical Lead for Myeloid Disorders. Dr Mead leads the UK NIHR MPN Clinical Studies Subgroup which oversees MPN clinical research in the UK and he is the Principal or Chief Investigator of over 30 clinical trials in MPNs.
Ruben Mesa
San Antonio, USA
Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson
Ruben Mesa
Ruben A. Mesa, M.D., FACP, is director of the Mays Cancer Center, home to the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center. Dr. Mesa is a professor and holds the Mays Family Foundation Distinguished University presidential chair. Dr. Mesa has been principal investigator or co-principal investigator in more than 70 clinical trials for patients with myeloid disorders and played a lead role in various FDA approvals. He has been a funded investigator from the National Cancer Institute throughout his career. Currently, he is a co-principal investigator of the NCI Program Project Grant Funded Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research Consortium, where he co-leads the clinical trial consortium. He also served as the Chair of the Arizona Cancer Coalition, which oversees the Arizona Cancer Control Plan and worked with the Arizona Department of Health Services in advocating for Cancer in the State of Arizona. Dr. Mesa plays a range of leadership roles with the American Society of Hematology and is chair of the Standing Science and Education Committee for the International Society of Hematology. Dr. Mesa sits on the Executive Committee of the National Board of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Dr. Mesa is deeply committed to issue of health disparities, and increasing diversity amongst cancer clinical trial participants. Dr. Mesa is involved in several national efforts to expand clinical trial participant diversity including the Genentech’s External Council on Health Disparities. Dr. Mesa completed his undergraduate training in nuclear engineering and physiology at the University of Illinois and attended Mayo Medical School in Rochester, MN, where he completed his internal medicine residency and hematology & medical oncology fellowship. He was then on the faculty of the Mayo Clinic in hematology and later selected as deputy director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center from 2012-2017.
Dragana Milojkovic
London, UK
Hammersmith Hospital
Dragana Milojkovic
Dragana Milojkovic is a Consultant Haematologist and Professor of Practice at The Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London UK whose research and management focuses on chronic myeloid leukaemia and transplantation. Dr Milojkovic is also Director of the Clinical Trials unit at The Hammersmith Hospital and has published extensively in peer reviewed journals regarding the biology and clinical management of CML. Dr Milojkovic has participated in CML ELN recommendations and BSH guidelines, is a member of EBMT Chronic malignancies working party and EICML and is current chair of the UK NCRI CML sub-group.
Ann Mullally
Boston, USA
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center
Harvard Medical School
Ann Mullally
Dr. Ann Mullally is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a physician-scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) / Dana-Farber. She sees patients with MPN in her weekly clinic and is actively involved in all aspects of patient-oriented research. Her laboratory studies the genetics, biology and therapy of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) using primary patient samples, mouse models and multiple in vitro model systems. Dr. Mullally’s research interests include the biology of mutant CALR and JAK2V617F in MPN, the biology of myelofibrosis, MPN stem cells and the development of novel therapeutic strategies to preferentially target them.
Jyoti Nangalia
Hinxton, UK
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Jyoti Nangalia
Jyoti Nangalia is a CRUK Clinician Scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and a Group Leader at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge. Her research group focuses on using sequencing technologies to understand the evolution of haematological cancers, with an emphasis on understanding how early myeloid neoplasms originate and evolve and how this relates to normal development and ageing. During her PhD she discovered mutations in Calreticulin in MPN that lacked mutations in JAK2 which has led to improved diagnosis for patients. She is a Consultant Haematologist and treats patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. She is a member of the MPN clinical study subgroup of the National Cancer Research Institute and has contributed to the writing of national guidelines for MPN in the UK.
Franck Nicolini
Lyon, France
Centre Léon Bérard
Franck Nicolini
Dr Nicolini received his medical degree from the University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France in 1993 and his certification in haematology the same year, from the University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France. He was co-responsible for the stem cell transplantation unit and the stem cell apheresis unit in the hematology department of Grenoble University Hospital for 3 years. Between 1996-1999 he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Terry Fox Laboratory (Pr CJ Eaves), in the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, BC, Canada, studying i) normal and HbS erythropoiesis, ii) retroviral gene transfer in normal and pathological hematopoietic stem cells, iii) Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia hematopoiesis in vitro and in vivo in immunodeficient mice. He got his PhD in University Claude Bernard in 2001 and his “ability for directing research” in human biology in 2004, from the same university. He worked as a hospital practitioner in the hematology department of the university hospital of Bordeaux (Pr J Reiffers) between 1999-2001, mostly focusing on CML, AL, MPNs and autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant. He further headed, 2001-2017, a stem cell transplantation & acute leukemia ward in the hospices civils de Lyon and was in charge of the clinical CML and MPNs programs in this institution (Pr M. Michallet). Since April 2017 he joined the blooming Hematology team of the Cancer Center Léon Bérard in Lyon where he is responsible for the development of the CML and MPNs programs. This centre has been labelled as a centre for excellence for CML by the ELN and the iCMLf. In addition, he is the president of the French group of CML (Fi-LMC) since October 2018. He has led several CML national academic trials on CML since 2000. Dr Nicolini teaches as well at the University Claude Bernard in Lyon, France, since 20 years.
Finally, Dr Nicolini is also a senior scientist in the Inserm research unit 1042 in the “Centre de Recherche Contre le Cancer” Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, where he leads with Dr V. Maguer-Satta and Dr S. Lefort a scientific program of basic scientific research on CML, AML and normal hematopoiesis, mostly focused on the role of the hematopoietic niche in CML resistant to TKIs, and maintenance of Ph+ stem cells and in relapsed AML.
Dr Nicolini has more than 100 original publications and book chapters in the field of hematology, stem cell transplantation, CML and MPNs, and is or has been a reviewer several times >25 peer-reviewed journals in the field of hematology, as well as for EHA, FSH, ESH, EBMT and ASH meetings.
Francesco Passamonti
Varese, Italy
Ospedale di Circolo
Francesco Passamonti
Prof. Francesco Passamonti is Full Professor of Hematology at the University of Insubria, Varese, Italy, and Head of the Division of Hematology of Varese. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Pavia, subsequently becoming a specialist in hematology. He worked as Assistant Professor of Hematology at the University of Pavia and as a hematologist at the Hematology of the I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
He is principal investigator for many clinical trials in hematologic malignancies; however, his main area of interest is in the Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myelofibrosis. He collaborated on the definition of the molecular
basis of MPNs and then designed translational studies to evaluate clinical implications of new molecular discoveries. He designed new prognostic models for essential thrombocythemia and primary and secondary myelofibrosis. He leads and with his group perform many clinical trials on the development of targeted therapies in MPNs. He participated as a panelist in the definitions of diagnostic criteria, response to treatments, and guidelines for treatment decision. He is a member of the board of the International Working Group on Myeloproliferative Research and Treatment, as well as the European LeukemiaNet Work Package 9 for MPN and the Working Party for MPN of GIMEMA. Prof. Passamonti is a member of several hematology societies and the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Hematology and is an invited speaker to several international meetings. He has authored and coauthored more than 240 articles on MPN and other hematological malignancies, reaching an h-index of 65 (Scopus, Dec2020).
Deepti Radia
London, UK
Guys & St Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Deepti Radia
Dr Deepti H Radia, Haematology Consultant, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London.UK.
Deepti Radia, MRCPI, FRCPath, MSc Med Ed.
Deepti has been in her consultant post at Guys and St Thomas Hospitals since 2003. She is part of the Internationally recognised MPN service led by Professor Claire Harrison.
Deepti is the lead clinician for the systemic mastocytosis and chronic myeloid leukaemia services. The ECNM UK mastocytosis centre of excellence at Guys and St Thomas Hospitals was jointly established by Deepti and Dr Clive Grattan in 2005. The nationally recognised service accepts referrals from across the UK, Ireland and further afield.
She is CI for some landmark trials for patients with advanced/indolent systemic mastocytosis – PKC412, EXPLORER, PATHFINDER and PIONEER. She is a member of the study steering committee for the EXPLORER trial; a phase 1 trial of Avapritinib in advanced systemic mastocytosis.
Deepti is actively involved in the education of clinicians and patients improve understanding of mast cell disorders by delivering regular teaching in regional, national, international meetings in addition to the UKMasto patient support group.
Delphine Rea
Paris, France
Hôpital Saint-Louis
Delphine Rea
Dr Rea is appointed at Saint-Louis hospital, Paris, France, where she works as a physician specialized in hematology since 2000. Her main clinical and research interest focuses on myeloid diseases and she is responsible for the chronic myeloid leukemia clinical care and research program. She has been the principal investigator or investigator of many academic- or industry-sponsored clinical trials dedicated to CML, including pivotal studies that have led to the approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors or treatment-free remission studies.
She belongs to the board of directors of the French cooperative group of CML (FI-LMC), to the European LeukemiaNet and ESH iCMLf. She has authored and co-authored over 80 publications in the field of haematological malignancies, immunology and cellular therapy.
Andreas Reiter
Mannheim, Germany
University Hospital Mannheim
Andreas Reiter
Dr. Andreas Reiter is an Associate Professor and Consultant of Hematology and Oncology at the Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim of the Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg in Germany. Dr Reiter’s main research focus lies on the pathogenesis and treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms. Since 1992, he has been involved in numerous clinical trials, most recently particularly focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, chronic eosinophilic leukemia and systemic mastocytosis with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Dr. Reiter has established a German registry for eosinophilia-associated disorders and systemic mast cell diseases.
Tomasz Sacha
Krakow, Poland
Jagiellonian University
Tomasz Sacha
Ass. Prof. Tomasz Sacha MD.PhD. graduated from the Medical Academy in Kraków in 1992. During his studies, he worked actively in the research team at the Department of Internal Medicine in Kraków and won twice the prize of the Students’ Scientific Society competition for the best scientific project. He worked as an assistant in the Haematology Department at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków after initial specialization in internal medicine. He specialized further in haematology after several pieces of training in Basel, Genoa and Turin, and became a lecturer and professor at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. He received his PhD for his work on molecular diagnostics of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). In 2008, he completed his specialization in laboratory diagnostics and, in 2013, he habilitated at the Jagiellonian University. Dr Sacha established a National Molecular Reference Laboratory for quantitative BCR/ABL analysis and is responsible for the standardization of this procedure in Polish Molecular Laboratories. In 2002 he contributed to the organization of Polish Advocacy Group of patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukaemia. For his activity, he was awarded the prize: “Service for Life Award” and became an Honorary Member No 1 of this Society.
Since 2013, he is a president of the Molecular Hematology Section of the Polish Society of Human Genetics, and since 2017 he is the president of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Section of the Polish Adult Leukemia Group, and since May 2019 he is the head of The Chair and Department of Hematology in Jagiellonian University Hospital. He has extensive clinical experience in the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and in the field of molecular monitoring of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms. He is also interested in the clinical research of myeloproliferative neoplasms aiming at eliminating the leukemic stem cells.
Giuseppe Saglio
Turin, Italy
Universita degli studi di Torino
Giuseppe Saglio
Giuseppe Saglio is a Professor of Haematology and Internal Medicine at the University of Turin. He is Head of the Division of Haematology at the Mauriziano Hospital in Turin. Professor Saglio is coordinator of the PhD programme in Medicine and Experimental Therapy of the University of Turin. He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed articles in the fields of molecular pathogenesis of haematological diseases, molecularly targeted therapy and molecular characterization of haematological malignancies.
Susanne Saussele
Mannheim, Germany
Universitätsmedizin Mannheim
Susanne Saussele
Susanne Saußele studied medicine at the University of Heidelberg and specialized in Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology. She completed her thesis in the laboratory of Prof Dr Hehlmann and made her habilitation in Internal Medicine in 2013. In 2017, she was appointed as professor of the University of Heidelberg. Currently, she is the leader of the CML Excellence Center in Mannheim including the molecular laboratory and the Study Centre of the Mannheim Cancer Center. She is acting as chief resident of the policlinic at the III. Med. Klinik, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, University of Heidelberg. Prof. Saußele is also active as a project leader in EUTOS (European treatment and Outcome Study of CML) and in the E-MPN network (European network for MPN) and as active member in the ELN CML Working Party. Additionally she has been member of the Scientific Program Committee of EHA 2014-2019.
Srdan (Serge) Verstovsek
Houston, USA
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Srdan (Serge) Verstovsek
Dr. Verstovsek is the United Energy Resources, Inc., Professor of Medicine and a hematologist-oncologist at MD Anderson. Dr. Verstovsek is a global leader in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and the Founder/Director of the largest MPN Clinical Research Center worldwide. Dr. Verstovsek has achieved international acclaim for his leadership in developing landmark MPN therapeutics. Dr. Verstovsek led more than 60 early/advanced phase clinical trials of novel MPN drugs, including ruxolitinib, the only FDA-approved medication for myelofibrosis until 2019, and second-line treatment for polycythemia vera. He is leading pivotal phase 3 trials for several promising myelofibrosis medications. Dr. Verstovsek has published 23 book chapters, 3 books, and over 550 peer-reviewed original articles and reviews in leading medical journals, such as New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, Leukemia, and Lancet. Dr. Verstovsek is the lead and senior author of over 80 and 200 articles, respectively (h-index 89). Dr. Verstovsek received several distinguished awards, including the Otis W. and Pearl L. Walters Faculty Achievement Award in Clinical Research (2017) and the 7th Annual Irwin H. Krakoff Award for Excellence in Clinical Research (2013). He was elected member of The American Society for Clinical Investigation (2015) and received the Celgene 2010 Young Investigator Award for Clinical Research. Dr. Verstovsek’s contributions in MPN have been globally recognized with numerous invitations as expert speaker/educator/Chair at the most significant national and international conferences. He regularly engages at multiple levels with MPN patients’ advocacy groups/societies. He is Co-Founder/Executive Committee Member of the International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Treatment and Research.
Peter E. Westerweel
Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Albert Schweitzer Hospital
Peter E. Westerweel
Peter Westerweel graduated medical school at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, from which he was later also rewarded his PhD. Early research focus was on the role of bone marrow stem cells in vascular and renal regeneration. This work was done in Utrecht and at the Ansary Stem Cell Center for Regenerative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, USA. Later clinical and research focus was on myeloproliferative neoplasms, chronic myeloid leukemia and thrombosis. Dr. Westerweel is a member of the HOVON MPN/CML working group and investigator in various ongoing trials. From 2013 he has been working as a specialist of Internal Medicine and Hematology in het Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Dordrecht with an affiliation with the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.