The American Society of Hematology Honors Ross L. Levine, MD, with the 2018 William Dameshek Prize
(WASHINGTON, August 14, 2018) – The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will present the 2018 William Dameshek Prize to Ross L. Levine, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College for his discoveries in the field of leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms.
“There has never been a better time to be in the hematology field. As a physician scientist, I try to remember to always follow the questions that challenge me and ensure that I have a great team by my side throughout my career,” said Dr. Levine. “It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the professional society that has supported my career, and I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of all my trainees, collaborators, and mentors.”
The William Dameshek Prize is awarded to an early- or mid-career hematologist who has made a recent outstanding contribution to the field of hematology. This prize is named after the late William Dameshek, MD, a past president of ASH and the original editor of Blood. ASH President Alexis Thompson, MD, MPH, of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, will present this award to Dr. Levine on Tuesday, December 4, during the 60th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego.
Dr. Levine is an internationally recognized leader in the study of leukemia and, through his work to understand the role of epigenetics in the development of this hematologic malignancy, has helped shepherd a paradigm shift from identification of genetic mutations to the consideration of how other variants contribute to blood cancer. Among his significant contributions, he was one of the first investigators to define the role of TET2, IDH1, and IDH2 mutations in hematologic malignancies, which has led to the development of molecularly targeted therapies for acute myeloid leukemia. Dr. Levine also played a key role in deciphering the role of JAK-STAT activation in myeloproliferative neoplasms, which has led to approved therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasm patients.
Dr. Levine is the Laurence Joseph Dineen Chair in Leukemia Research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. He has chaired several ASH scientific committees and is currently the vice chair of the Committee on Scientific Affairs, the group that oversees ASH’s scientific agenda.
“Progress in medicine requires bright, innovative minds who are inspired to challenge the status quo,” said Dr. Thompson. “Dr. Levine is among the most promising investigators in hematology today, and his leadership in facilitating the integration of genomic and epigenetic profiling into drug discovery will continue to improve patient outcomes.”
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) (www.hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. For 60 years, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. ASH publishes Blood (www.bloodjournal.org), the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field, which is available weekly in print and online. In 2016, ASH launched Blood Advances (www.bloodadvances.org), an online, peer-reviewed open-access journal.
CONTACT:
Sara Khalaf, American Society of Hematology
skhalaf@hematology.org; 202-552-4925