E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize

This lectureship was created in 1992 and named after the late Nobel Prize laureate and past ASH president E. Donnall Thomas, MD. The E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and Prize is intended to recognize pioneering research achievements in hematology that have represented a paradigm shift or significant discovery in the field.

Because this award involves a dedicated lecture during the meeting, the chosen individual must not only be a recognized leader in the field but also have effective communication skills.

Key Dates

Nomination Deadline for E. Donnall Thomas Lecture and PrizeJuly 15, 2026
Award Notification for RecipientsMarch 2027
Presentation of Awards for RecipientsDecember 2027

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Both nominees and nominators must be members of ASH. Not an ASH member? Apply today
  • Nominees of all nationalities and all countries of residence are eligible; however, all nomination materials must be submitted in English.

Exclusion

  • Self-nominations and posthumous nominations will not be accepted.
  • Past recipients are not eligible for the same award they received previously.
  • Recipients may only receive one honorific award per year.
  • Voting members of the ASH Executive Committee and the ASH Awards Committee are ineligible for an honorific award during their tenure.

Additional Guidance

Before getting started, please review the Honorific Award Nominations Guidance document, which provides detailed information about each award and guidance on crafting an effective nomination letter.

The following documents are required in order to submit a nomination package:

  • A completed nomination form;
  • A copy of the nominee's current CV or a copy of the nominee's NIH biosketch (preferred) annotated with “Contributions to Science,” if available ;
  • A two-page letter of nomination summarizing the nominee's contributions to hematology, explaining how those contributions have advanced the field, and describing why the nominee deserves the specific honorific ward (please refer to the Honorific Award Nominations Guidance document for recommendations on writing an effective nomination letter);
  • Optional: One additional two-page letter of support will be accept

If you are having trouble completing or submitting your nomination, please email awards@hematology.org to request assistance. 

The Pioneer Behind the Award Name

E. Donnall Thomas, MD

E. Donnall Thomas, MD, (1920-2012) was a physician-scientist whose focus on leukemia and the bone marrow transformed medicine. A former president of ASH, Dr. Thomas was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1990, sharing the award with Joseph E. Murray, MD, for their discoveries advancing organ and cell transplantation in the treatment of human disease.

 

Dr. Thomas’ work was recognized in two areas — his success in diminishing the severe reaction that a graft can cause in a recipient (i.e., graft-versus-host diseases) and his achievement in transplanting bone marrow cells from one individual to another, a life-saving breakthrough for patients with either leukemia or lymphoma.

 

He was a professor emeritus at the University of Washington and director emeritus of the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. To learn more about Dr. Thomas, visit this biographical webpage, which includes a tribute video created by Fred Hutch.

Questions?

For assistance or more information about ASH Honorific Awards, please contact the Awards Department at awards@hematology.org or 202-776-0544.