Subcommittee on Precision Medicine

Committee Roster

Chair 
Jonathan Gerber, MD ('27) 

Vice Chair 
Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD ('27) 

Appointed Members 
Pamela S. Becker, MD, PhD ('28) 
John C. Byrd, MD ('28) 
Kathleen Freson, PhD ('26) 
Caroline A. Heckman, PhD ('27) 
Annette S. Kim, MD, PhD ('26) 
Jatinder K. Lamba, PhD ('28) 
Celina Montemayor Garcia, MD, PhD ('27) 
Kim E. Nichols, MD ('27) 
Elli Papaemmanuil, PhD ('28) 
Juliana Perez Botero, MD ('27) 
Christopher Reid Reilly, MD ('28) 
Mala Shanmugam, PhD ('27) 
Paul Simonson, MD, PhD ('27) 
Peter Valk, PhD ('26) 
Lachelle D Weeks, MD, PhD ('26) 
Arun Wiita, MD, PhD ('28) 
Brent Wood, MD, PhD ('28) 

Liaisons 
Brody Foy, DPhil ('29) - Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence 
Richard Jirui Lin, MD, PhD ('28) - Committee on Educational Affairs 
Camille Puronen, MD, MPH ('28) - Committee on Practice 

Staff Liaison 
Kelly Rose, PhD 

Committee Mandate

The increased use of genome sequencing and genomic profiling in research and the clinical settings has significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic diseases by identifying unique genomic variations. Investigation of these variations, in combination with alterations in the proteome and metabolome, can identify contributors to disease and drug resistance and vulnerabilities to target therapeutically. ASH has an ongoing interest in enhancing precision medicine and the application of Omics profiling of malignant and classical hematological conditions.

The Subcommittee on Precision Medicine, a subcommittee of the Committee on Scientific Affairs, aims to improve the use of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data in clinical care, research, and education. The subcommittee aims to develop strategies to improve and disseminate:

  • The utility of bioinformatics and cloud-based tools for the interpretation of germline and somatic variants during the process of genetic testing, including from racial and ethnic minority groups.
  • The applicability of germline and somatic variant testing and advocate for its access and reimbursement.
  • The importance of standardized collection of clinical data with Omics profiling.
  • The utility and functional significance of germline and somatic genomic variation.
  • The use of Omics data for disease prevention, guiding treatment decisions, and monitoring disease progression and/or measurable residual disease.
  • Pharmacogenomics in hematology.
  • Incorporation of new technologies including functional drug screening and large public genome data sets for precision medicine.

The chair and vice chair of the Subcommittee on Precision Medicine each serve two-year terms with the immediate past chair serving another one-year term on the subcommittee as a member. If not already a member of the Committee on Scientific Affairs, the chair of the Subcommittee on Precision Medicine serves as a liaison to the Committee on Scientific Affairs.

Members of the Subcommittee on Precision Medicine are appointed to three-year staggered terms (with the possibility of renewal) and include experts focused on both malignant and classical hematology. The structure of the subcommittee includes liaison members from the Committee on Educational Affairs, the Committee on Practice, and the Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence.

Members of the Subcommittee on Precision Medicine are required to participate in regularly scheduled conference calls and possibly one in-person meeting if deemed necessary.