ASH to honor several hematology leaders

Marshall A. Lichtman

ASH will honor several distinguished leaders in hematology at its annual meeting in December.

The following honorees will be recognized through awards and special lectures:

Marshall A. Lichtman, MD, will receive the Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology. Lichtman — professor emeritus in the departments of medicine and biochemistry/biophysics at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry — will be recognized for his service to the field as an educator, mentor, researcher and physician.

Benjamin L. Ebert

James R. Downing

Luigi Naldini, MD, PhD, and Marina Cavazzana, MD, PhD, will receive the Ernest Beutler Lecture and Prize, which recognizes major translational advances related to a single topic. Naldini is director of the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy in Milan, Italy, and professor of cell tissue biology and gene and cell therapy at Vita Salute San Raffaele University School of Medicine in Milan. He is known for his contributions to the understanding of cell and gene therapy, as well as stem cell transplantation. Cavazzana is professor of hematology at Paris Descartes University and head of the department of biotherapy at Hopital Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris. She has made seminal discoveries that led to clinical trials with lentiviral vector gene-modified cells for treatment of benign hematologic conditions.

Benjamin L. Ebert, MD, PhD, will receive the William Dameshek Prize, which honors an early or mid-career hematologist who made an outstanding contribution to the field of hematology. Ebert — professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, chair of medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, leader of the leukemia program at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and associate physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital — is recognized for his role in describing the genomic landscape of adult myelodysplastic syndrome.

Sherrill J. Slichter

Ronald Hoffman

James R. Downing, MD, will present the E. Donnall Thomas Lecture, which recognizes pioneering research achievements in hematology that represent a paradigm shift or significant discovery in the field. Downing — president and CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — will speak about advances in the understanding of pediatric acute leukemia.

Josef T. Prchal, MD, and Sherrill J. Slichter, MD, will receive the Henry M. Stratton Medal, which honors senior investigators who made contributions to basic and clinical/translational hematology research over several years. Prchal — professor of medicine in hematology, pathology and genetics at University of Utah — is recognized for his contributions to the study of a broad range of red cell disorders. Slichter — professor of medicine/hematology at University of Washington and director of platelet transfusion research at Bloodworks Northwest in Seattle — has helped revolutionize platelet transfusion therapy by identifying methods to significantly prolong platelets’ shelf life and determining how to prevent alloimmune platelet refractoriness.

Oliver W. Press

Betty S. Pace

Ronald Hoffman, MD, and Oliver W. Press, MD, PhD, will receive Mentor Awards in recognition of their sustained commitment to the training and career development of early career hematologists. Hoffman is professor of medicine in the division of hematology and medical oncology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Press is a member and recipient of the Giuliani/Press endowed chair for cancer research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, as well as professor of medicine and adjunct professor of bioengineering at University of Washington.

Betty S. Pace, MD, will receive the inaugural ASH Award for Leadership in Promoting Diversity. The award recognizes hematologists who supported the development of an inclusive hematology workforce, encouraged the career development of underrepresented minority trainees or made a commitment to inclusiveness through contributions in support of ASH’s mission. Pace — a sickle cell disease researcher — is interim chief of pediatric hematology/oncology, Francis J. Tedesco distinguished chair and director of the pediatric sickle cell program at Augusta University in Georgia.