Session feed Testing

SPECIAL INTEREST SESSIONS

Jump to:

ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Aplastic Anemia

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l HIJK

In this session, speakers will highlight recommendations from the 2025 ASH guidelines on aplastic anemia and will discuss important considerations for the application of the recommendations in practice.

Chair:

Phillip Scheinberg, MD
Hospital A Beneficencia Portuguesa

Speakers:

Austin G. Kulasekararaj, MD,MBBS,FRCPath,MRCP
King's College Hospital
Recommendations for Diagnosis of Aplastic Anemia

Kristin Ammon Shimano
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
Recommendations for transplant in patients with Aplastic Anemia

Emma Groarke, MD
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Recommendations for IST and medical management of Aplastic Anemia

ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency with and without Anemia

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom OPQ

In this session, speakers will highlight recommendations from the upcoming ASH guidelines on diagnosis of iron deficiency and will discuss important considerations for the application of the recommendations in practice.

Chair:

Jacquelyn Powers, MD
Texas Children's Hematology Center

Speakers:

Imo Akpan, MD
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Ferritin, TSAT, and how low is too low: Diagnosis of iron deficiency in adults

Layla Van Doren, MD,MBA
Yale School of Medicine
Menstruating individuals: Evidence-based ferritin thresholds

Michelle Sholzberg, MD
University of Toronto
Screening and defining iron deficiency in pregnant individuals

ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hydroxyurea for Sickle Cell Disease

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
OCCC - W311ABCD

In this session, speakers will highlight recommendations from the upcoming ASH guidelines on dosing and monitoring of hydroxyurea for SCD and will discuss important considerations for the application of the recommendations in practice.

Chair:

Venee N. Tubman, MD MMSc
Texas Children's Hospital

Speakers:

Aimee Hildenbrand, PhD
Nemours Children's Health
Adherence Recommendations for Hydroxyurea for SCD

Marvin Reid
Caribbean Institute for Health Research
Monitoring Recommendations for Hydroxyurea for SCD

Jane Hankins, MD,MS
St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Dosing Recommendations for Hydroxyurea for SCD

ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Myelofibrosis

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
OCCC - W414CD

In this session, speakers will highlight recommendations from the upcoming ASH guidelines on myelofibrosis and will discuss important considerations for the application of the recommendations in practice.

Chair:

Brady Stein, MD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Speakers:

Anthony Michael Hunter, MD
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Myelofibrosis Recommendation Highlights: Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Aspirin Therapy, and Iron Chelators

Douglas Tremblay, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Jak Inhibitors in Myelofibrosis: Recommendations for Different Risk Profiles, Symptoms, and Treatment History

Natasha Szuber
University of Montreal
Timing Transplantation and Pre-Transplant Therapy in Myelofibrosis: Recommendations for Optimal Management

ASH Clinicians in Practice Lunch: Access to Critical Drugs: The Causes, Costs, and Campaigns

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom

Chair:

Mary-Elizabeth Percival, MD
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Speakers:

Thomas Roades
Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy
The interactions of the pharmaceutical system and how the competing demands of different stakeholders can influence cost and shortages

Emily Mackler
YesRX
Combatting drug shortages with drug repository programs

Brooke Boring
Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association
Advocacy at the federal and state level and how practitioners can get engaged

ASH Hemostasis and Thrombosis Community Networking Reception

Monday, December 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
OCCC - Valencia Foyer

A networking reception supporting the Hemostasis & Thrombosis community that serves as a gathering space for leaders in the field to connect and acknowledge the great lengths of progress made within the past year.

ASH’s SCD Initiative: 10 Years of Progress and a Look to the Future of Sickle Cell Disease Research and Care

Monday, December 8, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
OCCC - W230

Join us for the Center for Sickle Cell Disease Reception in W240 to follow.

Chair:

Alexis A. Thompson, MD MPH
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Speakers:

Alexis A. Thompson, MD MPH
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
10 Years of Progress: ASH’s Sickle Cell Disease initiatives

Omar Niss, MD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Leveraging the ASH Research Collaborative SCD Research Network to Understand Underused Disease Modifying Therapies and Updates from Voxelotor?Withdrawal

Michael R DeBaun, MD, MPH
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Findings from “Sickle Cell Trait Does Not Cause ‘Sickle Cell Crisis’ Leading to Exertion Related Death: A Systematic Review”

Catherine Chunda-Liyoka, Dr
University Teaching Hospitals - Childrens Hospitals, Ministry of Health
Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa – Diagnostic to Community Based Efforts

Robert Liem, MD
Lurie Children's Hospital
ASH SCD Clinical Guidelines and Implementation Tools in Action

ASH-FDA Joint Symposium on Newly Approved Therapies I

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom S

These joint sessions, co-sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will feature drugs recently approved to treat hematologic disorders. FDA product-reviewers will discuss the safety and efficacy issues for the products' clinical trials and toxicity studies. The program will also include clinicians who will discuss their perspectives on the use of the products in the real-world setting. There will be ample time for questions from the audience.

ASH-FDA Joint Symposium on Newly Approved Therapies II

Monday, December 8, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom S

Back to Business Breakfast

Monday, December 8, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom A

Join us at the first ever Back to Business Breakfast, a?networking-style breakfast and a closer look at ASH IGNITE, the Society’s new initiative advancing the business of innovation in hematology. A member of the ASH Business of Innovation Task Force will briefly introduce the ASH IGNITE platform, which features a Knowledge Center of expert-vetted resources and a Networking Hub connecting innovators and investors, with the goal of bringing together like-minded hematologists to create a network of innovators.

Blood Advances Presents: How to Peer Review a Scientific Paper

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
OCCC - W314

In this session, the Deputy Editor from Blood Advances will demystify the peer review process, covering why it matters, what makes it effective, and how you can contribute meaningfully as a reviewer. Attendees will learn practical strategies for evaluating manuscripts constructively and ethically. If you’re new to the process or looking to refine your approach, this is your crash course in becoming a trusted voice in scientific publishing.

Speaker:

Andrew Weyrich
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Blood Advances Presents: How to Peer Review a Scientific Paper

Blood Presents: How to get Published in a Peer Review Journal

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
OCCC - W314

In this candid and practical session, the Editor-in-Chief and one of the Deputy Editors from Blood will walk you through the key steps in preparing and submitting a scientific manuscript. The session will cover what editors are looking for, common pitfalls in manuscript preparation, what to expect after submission, and how to approach revisions or rejections with professionalism and purpose.

Speaker:

Andrew Roberts
Walter Eliza Hall Institute
Blood Presents: How to Get Published in a Peer Review Journal

Celebrating Diverse Voices: Enriching Hematology Lunch

Monday, December 8, 2025, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom A

This is a community-building and networking event for members from an expansive and inclusive group of communities attending the meeting. The event is hosted by the Committee on Advancing Excellence and Population Health and aims to create space for these communities to learn more about the differing experiences and needs across communities and create a sense of belonging and allyship. This year’s event will include inspiring remarks from a fellow member and networking opportunities throughout.

Center for Sickle Cell Disease Initiatives Reception

Monday, December 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
OCCC - W240

Join us for a special evening reception celebrating ASH’s 10-year commitment to improving the lives of individuals living with sickle cell disease. This milestone event honors a decade of transformative progress, collaboration, and advocacy. Guests will have the opportunity to network with leaders in hematology and sickle cell research. Whether you’ve been part of this movement from the beginning or are newly engaged, we welcome you to celebrate this momentous occasion with us.

Early Faculty Career Development Session

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom S

This year, we will focus on how to be successful in your first 'real' job. Curated faculty speakers representing diverse job profiles will share their journey and advice on this topic. Strategies to develop a productive clinical or laboratory based research program, finding success as an practicing clinician and a clinical educator will be discussed. The speakers will then join a panel discussion on pathways to sustained success and job satisfaction where they will also address questions from the audience.

Chair:

Pallawi Torka, MD

Speakers:

Courtney Jones, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Developing a Productive Research Program (How to Set up a New Laboratory) - Part 1

Alexey V. Danilov, MD, PhD
City of Hope National Medical Center
Developing a Productive Research Program (How to Set up a New Laboratory) - Part 2

Peter Kouides, MD
University of Rochester
Developing a Focused Area of Clinical Expertise - Part 1

Usha S Perepu
UT Health San Antonio
Developing a Focused Area of Clinical Expertise - Part 2

Hetty Carraway, MD, MBA
Cleveland Clinic
Setting Yourself Up for Sustained Success - Panel Discussion

Grassroots Network Lunch

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom

The ASH Grassroots Network Lunch provides a forum for interested members to learn how they can participate in ASH’s advocacy efforts, communicate with Congress and their elected officials, become effective advocates for hematology, and discuss the Society’s legislative and regulatory priorities. An overview of the Society’s 2025 advocacy accomplishments and a preview of the Society’s 2026 advocacy agenda will also be provided. This year’s event will also highlight ASH’s expanded advocacy and the Fight4Hematology campaign with a panel of ASH stakeholders who have advocated in different ways, sharing their efforts and stories.

Chair:

Bart L Scott, MD

Speaker:

Bart L Scott, MD

Expanded Advocacy and Fight4Hematology

Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations – Classical Hematology

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom C

Join us for this special session highlighting the research of ASH Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) awardees. The HIP initiative is a comprehensive, 13-year longitudinal career pathway designed to ensure that the field of hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The session will feature oral scientific presentations from current program awardees, highlighting their innovative work and contributions to the field, with a focus on Classical Hematology.

Following the presentations, we welcome you to connect with the HIP community and celebrate our awardees and their mentors at a networking reception.

Moderators:

Imo Akpan

Satiro De Oliveira

Speakers:

Adekunle Emmanuel Alagbe, MD, PhD

Interleukin-27 in vaso-occlusion in Sickle Cell Disease

Alex Pollock

Role of TRPV-1 and Histone Deacetylase 6 Pro-inflammatory Signaling in HbAA Mice

Halimat Olaniyan

TETRIS: Timing of Exchange Transfusion in Sickle Cell Disease

Jesse Sanchez

Clinical and Biomolecular Features of Non-JAK2 Erythrocytosis: A Single Center Experience

Luisanna Sanchez Ventura

Clinical and Hematopoietic Profiles Associated with Sustained Hydroxyurea Response for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

NaShea Kendrick

Neutrophil cathepsin G potentiates biased signaling through protease activated receptor 4 (PAR4)

Oluwafunke Kolawole

Iron restriction via iron chelation on hematological outcomes in Sickle Cell-Hemoglobin C (HbSC) Disease

Tony Owusu

Bleeding and Thrombosis in Patients with Cancer and Acute Venous Thromboembolism Requiring Urgent Proced

Victoria Heigh

Characterizing the clinicopathologic features of bone marrow failure syndromes

Virginia Camacho, PhD

Tet2 Age Associated Somatic Mutations alter Megakaryocytes and Platelet Function

Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations – Health Services Outcomes

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l F

Join us for this special session highlighting the research of ASH Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) awardees. The HIP initiative is a comprehensive, 13-year longitudinal career pathway designed to ensure that the field of hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The session will feature oral scientific presentations from current program awardees, highlighting their innovative work and contributions to the field, with a focus on Health Services Outcomes.

Following the presentations, we welcome you to connect with the HIP community and celebrate our awardees and their mentors at a networking reception.

Moderators:

Margo Rollins

Joanna Robles

Speakers:

Elizabeth A Doss, BS

Evaluating the Efficacy of Brief Neurocognitive Assessments in Adults and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease

Jennifer Salako

Evaluating Risk Factors for Malnutrition in Children with and without Sickle Cell Disease in Northern Nigeria

Britney Bell

Piloting Health Literacy Universal Precautions to Impact Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

Dominique Mosley

Characterizing a racially diverse cohort of patients with AL amyloidosis treated with daraVCD

Sarah Addison

Financial Toxicity in Young Patients with Multiple Myeloma

Valentina Ardila Avila

Obesity Associations with Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Helen Ajufo

Analysis of the North American Transplant Outcomes(NAMTO) Study

Ayobami Olafimihan, MD

Risks and Trends of Cancer in Sickle Cell Disease: A Multi-Year United States Population-Based Study

Nidhi Patel

Assessing Disparities in Screening and Treatment of Iron Deficiency during Pregnancy

Olanipekun Lanny Ntukidem

Comparing 1-Year and 5-Year Outcomes of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Acute Leukemia and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL): A Multi-Center Analysis of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Impact

Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations - Malignant Hematology I

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom A

Join us for this special session highlighting the research of ASH Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) awardees. The HIP initiative is a comprehensive, 13-year longitudinal career pathway designed to ensure that the field of hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The session will feature oral scientific presentations from current program awardees, highlighting their innovative work and contributions to the field, with a focus on Malignant Hematology.

Following the presentations, we welcome you to connect with the HIP community and celebrate our awardees and their mentors at a networking reception.

Moderators:

Yolanda Fortenberry

Nada Hamad

Speakers:

Alejandro De Janon

High Throughput and Long-Term Human Bone Marrow Organoids to Study Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Sensitivity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Ariel Leyte-Vidal

Identification and characterization of novel asciminib-resistant kinase domain mutations in BCR::ABL1

Breanna Maniaci

Acquisition of dual CSF3R mutations enhance oncogenic signaling and MYC stability

Chijioke Nze, MD, MPH

Long-Term Lymphoma Follow-Up Survey (LTL-FUS)

Cilomar Martins de Oliveira Filho
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Risk stratification of patients with TP53-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms

Claudia Cabrera

Targeting Nonsense-Mediated RNA Decay in Splicing Factor Mutant Myeloid Malignancies

Dejah Blake, MS

The impact of heme modulation on CAR T cell therapy

Jessica Maria Stempel, MD, MHS
Yale School of Medicine
Impact of metformin on outcomes in older adults with classical myeloproliferative neoplasms

Veronica Canarte

Characterization of novel factors that contribute to myeloma cell survival

Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) Oral Presentations – Malignant Hematology II

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom B

Join us for this special session highlighting the research of ASH Hematology Inclusion Pathway (HIP) awardees. The HIP initiative is a comprehensive, 13-year longitudinal career pathway designed to ensure that the field of hematology reflects and serves the diverse world we live in. The session will feature oral scientific presentations from current program awardees, highlighting their innovative work and contributions to the field, with a focus on Malignant Hematology.

Following the presentations, we welcome you to connect with the HIP community and celebrate our awardees and their mentors at a networking reception.

Moderators:

Anita D'Souza, MD

Randolph Lyde

Speakers:

Juan Balandrán

Inflammation at the core: MYD88 mutations and clonal hematopoiesis

Kevin Robert Reyes, MD
University of California, San Francisco
The Role of Immunogenomics on the Sequencing of T-cell Redirection Therapies in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Michael Pineda

Inducible Anti-CCR8 Producing CAR-T Cells For Specific Cancer Treg Ablation

Nicole S Arellano, MS

Dissecting the metabolic state of myeloproliferative neoplasms

Olivia Parker

Immune-Mediated Thrombosis: Understanding the extracellular trap’s role in clotting and resistance to lysis.

Omonike Oyelola

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and the Bone Marrow Microenvironment (Currently Developing Complete Title)

Rigoberto De Jesus

A Prospective Study of Whole Genome Sequencing (ChromoSeq) as an Adjunct to Conventional Genomic Profiling in MDS

Vivian Altiery De Jesus

Impact of bone marrow immune microenvironment on the response to blinatumomab and checkpoint inhibitors in relapse ALL treated on ETCTN10003

Hematology Inclusion Pathway Reception

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l DE

Join the HIP community to connect, network, and celebrate the achievements of our awardees and their mentors at this special reception following the oral presentations. This event offers an opportunity to build connections across the HIP network, engage with colleagues who share a commitment to fostering diversity in hematology, and recognize the exceptional work of program participants.

How Can Community-Based and Academic Hematologists Foster Clinical Trial Participation as Part of Patient Care?

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l HIJK

Patients often learn about clinical trials from their healthcare providers. However, the barriers to trial participation include: patients not being offered trials; physicians not having the capacity to effectively navigate clinicaltrials.gov and enroll patients; and community-based physicians are often not engaged (or engaged early enough to make a meaningful impact) in the clinical trial life cycle. This session will (1) address barriers that practicing hematologists face offering trials to patients, (2) provide practical solutions to overcome these barriers and (3) highlight best practices to engage patients and increase participation in trials.

Speakers will consist of a mix of practicing hematologists as well as other stakeholders in the clinical trial enterprise sharing their perspectives on the issue. The session will conclude with the speakers providing practical tactics that the audience can take to enhance access, inclusivity, and ultimately representation in hematology trials.

Chair:

Leonard Valentino
Rush University Medical Center

Speakers:

Leonard Valentino
Rush University Medical Center
Challenges to Clinical Trial Participation

Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, MS
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario
Patient Perspective

John M. M. Burke, MD
Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers
Engagement of Community Physicians in Clinical Trials

Fabio Dennstaedt
University Hospital and University of Bern
Moving Patients to Participants in Hematology Clinical Trials

Stephanie Valer Seremetis, MD
Novo Nordisk A/S
Industry Perspective

Alysha Croker
Health Canada
Government Perspective

Jeffrey Keefer, MD,PhD
IQVIA
Contract Research Organization Perspective

Michelle Feige
Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP)
Institutional Review Board Perspective

Joint Session: Advancing Hematology Through Artificial Intelligence

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom S

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to transform hematology - from decoding the biology of hematopoiesis to guiding real-time treatment decisions. This session will unite innovators spanning discovery science to bedside care, delivering an evidence-based roadmap of where AI is today and where it is headed.

Specifically, the session will address the following goals: (1) contextualizing the AI revolution in biomedicine; (2) showcasing state-of-the-art foundation models that refine cell-state inference in health and disease; (3) revealing AI-driven diagnostic platforms already reshaping laboratory hematology; and (4) charting practical, ethical pathways for responsible clinical deployment.

Attendees will leave with a clear conceptual framework linking foundational AI principles to concrete applications in hematology; actionable examples of how large-scale models boost biological insight and diagnostic accuracy; and a realistic grasp of implementation challenges. By tracing the arc from algorithm to patient, the session will empower participants to critically appraise emerging technologies, identify collaboration opportunities, and craft informed research or adoption strategies that ultimately can improve patient care.

Speakers:

Shannon McWeeney
Oregon Health and Science University
General AI: The AI Revolution in Healthcare: From Hype to Real-World Impact

Sanam Loghavi, MD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Diagnostics and Implementation: Smart Diagnostics: Implementing AI in Hematopathology

Karandeep Singh
University of California San Diego
Clinical Applications of AI: AI at the Bedside: Real-World Clinical Applications

Leveraging Genetic Diversity in Preclinical Discovery to Guide Precision Medicine

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
OCCC - W314

Consideration for variability in the constitutional DNA in medical research presents a unique opportunity to uncover novel biology, identify population-specific risk factors, and develop tailored therapies. By embracing the genetic and environmental variations across populations, we can unlock new avenues for innovation. While the clinical impact of variations in the somatic genetic profile, clinical presentation and survival prognostications are recognized, there is an unmet need to better understand the underlying biology of sometimes contrasting genotype-phenotype associations originating from varying germline genetic ancestries. This is caused by difficulties of biologically faithful functionalization approaches, and also limitations in the availability of suitable model organisms.

This session will present examples of bench-to-bedside translations, new model systems and basic research tools that have broad applicability for both basic and translational researchers. It may catalyze collaborations between translational researchers and basic scientists. In addition, the session aims to bridge the gap between clinical practice and basic research by exploring the critical role of genetic variation as a proxy for advancing precision medicine.

Attendees of the session will leave with an appreciation for the importance of considering genetic variation in research and cross-disciplinary partnerships to drive meaningful advances in patient treatment and survival.

Speakers:

Kellie Machlus, PhD
Harvard Medical School
Discovery Based on Population Structure: How to Faithfully Understand and Functionalize Novel Treatments

Adam J de Smith
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
Decoding Bias in Disease Risk: The Role of Ancestry and Genomic Variant Clustering

Jesse Boehm Jr
MIT
Moving Towards Precision Medicine: Influence of Germline and Ancestry on Preclinical Target Discovery

Leveraging Real-World Data in Multiple Myeloma for Regulatory Purposes

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
OCCC - West Hall E1

Real-world data (RWD) programs have become a vital resource to researchers to transform medicine. RWD provide large volumes of data that allow researchers to precisely target specific patient populations for research and to tailor new treatments and care regimens to improve patient outcomes. This 90-minute session, hosted by the ASH Research Collaborative Multiple Myeloma Research Network, will explore how various programs are leveraging RWD to drive real-world evidence generation and impactful research for regulatory purposes and advancing care.

Chair:

Saad Z. Usmani, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Speakers:

Saad Z. Usmani, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Shaji Kumar, MD
Mayo Clinic
Using Real-World Data to Accelerate Research on Multiple Myeloma Patient Cohorts: Lessons from the ASH RC Multiple Myeloma Data Hub

Othman Salim Akhtar, MD, MBBS
Medical College of Wisconsin
Using Real-World Data to Accelerate Research on Multiple Myeloma Patient Cohorts: Lessons from CIBMTR

Nicole Gormley, MD
Food and Drug Administration
Using Real-World Data to Accelerate Research on Multiple Myeloma Patient Cohorts: RWE Guidance from the FDA Perspective

Edward Laane, MD, PhD
European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Using Real-World Data to Accelerate Research on Multiple Myeloma Patient Cohorts: RWE Guidance from the EMA Perspective

Sushmita Sen, PhD
Roche
Using Real-World Data to Accelerate Research on Multiple Myeloma Patient Cohorts: RWE Considerations from the Industry Perspective

Saad Z. Usmani, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A

Leveraging Real-World Data in Sickle Cell Disease to Identify and Study Specific Cohorts of Interest

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
OCCC - W308

Real-world data (RWD) programs have become a vital resource for researchers to transform medicine. RWD provides large volumes of data that allow researchers to precisely target specific patient populations and tailor new treatments and care regimens to improve patient outcomes. This 90-minute session, hosted by the ASH Research Collaborative SCD Research Network, will explore how various RWD programs allow researchers to use RWD to identify specific patient populations of interest and drive impactful research.

Chair:

Charles Abrams, MD
U Penn

Speakers:

Charles Abrams, MD
U Penn
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Biree Andemariam, MD
University of Connecticut
Understanding Predictors of Severe Outcomes in SCD

Patty Steinert, PhD, MBA
Medical College of Wisconsin
Case Studies for Collaborative Research: Using RWD to Accelerate Research on SCD Patient Cohorts: Using CIBMTR to Track Patients on Gene Therapy for Long-Term Safety and Efficacy

Jeffrey Lebensburger, DO
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Case Studies for Collaborative Research: Using RWD to Accelerate Research on SCD Patient Cohorts: Using RWD to Develop a Framework to Support SCD Treatment Research

Charles Abrams, MD
U Penn
Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A

Julie Kanter, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Case Studies for Embedding Data Quality with Cohort Identification Studies for More Effective SCD Research Case: Using Multiple RWD Sources to Identify People with SCD Eligible for Novel Therapies

Charles Abrams, MD
U Penn
Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A

LGBTQIA+ Community Networking Brunch

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l DEFG

This is a community-building and networking event for members of the LGBTQIA+ community attending the meeting. The event is hosted by the Committee on Advancing Excellence and Population Health and aims to create a sense of belonging and allyship. This year’s event will include breakout group discussion on mentorship, community building, and career advancement followed by speed networking.

Medical Educators' Symposium

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l DEFG

The ASH 2025 Medical Educators Symposium will be focused on cultural evolutions, both for academic medical practice and trainee education. Medical education and patient care are rapidly transforming from the perspective of inclusivity, cultural humility, and mixed methods of teaching. Come hear from educational experts about how to better engage trainees through revolutionary multimedia approaches as well. Regardless of your training level or faculty rank, come join the conversation and share your perspectives. Everyone's voice matters!

Chair:

Alexander Boucher, MD
University of Minnesota

Speakers:

Robert Stern, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
General Session 1: The Evolving Landscape of Cultural Terminology in Hematology Part 1

Laura DeCastro, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
General Session 1: The Evolving Landscape of Cultural Terminology in Hematology Part 2

Jean M. Connors, MD
Harvard Medical School
General Session 2: Tips and Tricks to Efficiently Handle Knowledge Gathering Part 1

Jori May, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham
General Session 2: Tips and Tricks to Efficiently Handle Knowledge Gathering Part 2

Ronak Mistry, DO
University of Pennsylvania
General Session 3: Content Creation as Medical Educators Part 1

Ajay Major, MD, MBA
University of Colorado Cancer Center
General Session 3: Content Creation as Medical Educators Part 2

Alexander Boucher, MD
University of Minnesota
General Session Q&A

Ronak Mistry, DO
University of Pennsylvania
Breakout 1: Multimedia Integration into Educational Curricula - Facilitator A

Ajay Major, MD, MBA
University of Colorado Cancer Center
Breakout 1: Multimedia Integration into Educational Curricula - Facilitator B

Marina Heskel, MD
University of California San Francisco
Breakout 2: Mixed Methods Educational Strategies for All Learners - Facilitator A

Reed E. Drews, MD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Breakout 2: Mixed Methods Educational Strategies for All Learners - Facilitator B

Robert Stern, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Breakout 3: Cultural Humility in Hematology Care - Facilitator A

Rohini Jain, MD
University of California San Francisco
Breakout 3: Cultural Humility in Hematology Care - Facilitator B

Sana Saif Ur Rehman, MD
Washington University in St Louis
Breakout 4: Innovation in Education for the Current Generation - Facilitator A

Thomas Deloughery, MD
Oregon Health and Science Univ.
Breakout 4: Innovation in Education for the Current Generation - Facilitator B

Simulcast of Announcement of Awards and Plenary Scientific Session

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OCCC - W314

If you are unable to make it to the Marquee Session Room (OCCC - West Hall D2) in time for the start of the Announcement of Awards and/or Plenary Scientific Session, take advantage of this opportunity as the sessions will be shown in this room.

Simulcast of Announcement of Awards and Plenary Scientific Session

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom S

To, Through and Thereafter: Guiding Sickle Cell Disease Patients Considering Gene Therapy

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
OCCC - W311ABCD

In 2023, the Food & Drug Administration approved the first gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease. However, despite these advancements, only a small number of impacted individuals have received gene therapy, despite over 100,000 people living with the disease in the United States. The ASH Health Equity Task Force is hosting this special-interest session to highlight important considerations for providers and administrators to consider as they guide patients and patient representatives in accessing, navigating through, and after care for gene therapy.

This session is 90 minutes in duration. The first hour will consist of a facilitated panel discussion to educate hematologists on the nuances of understanding (1) key considerations to share with patients in determining if gene therapy is a viable treatment for them, (2) helping patients understand what they can expect and how they may need to prepare, if they proceed with gene therapy, and (3) critical preparation for patients and their caregivers to optimize their post treatment recovery and continuity of care for the long term. Following the panel discussion there will be 30 minutes for questions from the audience. The panel will be composed of 3 hematologists and 2 lived experience experts (LEEs) who will share their expertise and perspective for how to support and guide patients through each of the three stages of the process:

1. To Gene Therapy – which will focus on hematologists who are selecting and referring patients for gene therapy and also facing insurance approval challenges.
2. Through Gene Therapy – which will focus on physicians performing gene therapy and involved in day-to-day management of complications, etc.
3. Thereafter, Gene Therapy – which will focus on physicians involved in post-gene therapy management.

Chair:

Titilope Fasipe Jr, MD, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine

Speakers:

Alexis Leonard, MD
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
To Gene Therapy

Alexander Ngwube, MD
Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital
Through Gene Therapy

Andrew Campbell, MD
Children's National Hospital
Thereafter Gene Therapy

Rae Blaylark
Sickle Cell Foundation of MN
Lived Experience Expert

Olujimi Olaghere
Sugarloaf Capital
Lived Experience Expert

Training Program Directors Workshop

Friday, December 5, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
SeaWorld - Ports of Call 1

The goal of the 2025 Training Program Directors Workshop is to look forward and determine how hematology-oncology fellowships can innovate and change in order to improve our programs and meet the needs of our future fellows. Through learning about innovations within other fellowship programs, understanding how professionalism expectations can change to meet the contemporary fellow, and considering the career trajectories for med-peds trained residents, we hope that the session will encourage program directors to assess their own programs and consider opportunities for improvement/innovation.

The entrance for all ASH events at SeaWorld is through the Ports of Call special event space entrance, not through the main entrance to SeaWorld. To reach the correct entrance, enter SeaWorld at the cross section of Central Florida Parkway and Sea Harbor Drive. Upon entrance, drive on the outside of the parking lot until you see the Ports of Call Signage.

Chair:

Robert Stern, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Speakers:

Rakhi P. Naik Jr, MD, MHS
Johns Hopkins University
Innovations Large and Small in Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Part 1

Lisa Pei Chu I, MD
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center
Innovations Large and Small in Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Part 2

Jennifer Yui Jr, MD,MSc
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Innovations Large and Small in Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Part 3

Yannis Valtis, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Med Peds Path to Heme/Onc Training Part 1

John Molina, MD, MEd
CCF
Med Peds Path to Heme/Onc Training Part 2

Jennifer Kesselheim, MD,MEd
Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
Professionalism Part 1

Jennifer Cooperrider, MD
University of Chicago
Professionalism Part 2

Treating Fairly Rounds Lunch

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Manatee Spring

The Treating Fairly Rounds Lunch session will

Introduce the role of language (and cultural diversity) in the delivery of health care for non-English speaking populations
Discuss the impact of language barrier on the utilization of old and novel therapies, patient compliance, safety, and disease outcomes
Present potential solutions to overcome some of the challenges posed by language barriers and improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes.

Speakers:

Rahma Warsame, MD
Mayo Clinic
Healthcare Access to Non-English Speaking Populations - Presenter 1

Cesar Rodriguez Valdes, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Healthcare Access to Non-English Speaking Populations - Presenter 2

Updated ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Older Adults

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
OCCC - W414CD

In this session, speakers will highlight recommendations from the updated ASH guidelines on AML in older adults and will discuss important considerations for the application of the recommendations in practice.

Chair:

Mikkael Sekeres, MD
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami

Speakers:

Kah Poh (Melissa) Loh, MD, MS
University of Rochester Medical Center
Treatment Options for Older Adults with AML: Recommendations on Low-Dose Cytarabine, Azacitidine, and Decitabine Regimens as Monotherapy or Combinations

Luca Malcovati, MD
University of Pavia and IRCCS S. Matteo Hospital Foundation
Treatment Options for Older Adults with AML and IDH1/IDH2 Mutations: Recommendations on HMA Monotherapy, Combinations with Venetoclax, and Targeted Therapies

Maria R. Baer, MD
University of Maryland
Recommendations for Treatment for Older Adults with AML and FLT3 Mutations

Updated ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) in Adults

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
OCCC - W304EFGH

In this session, speakers will highlight recommendations from an upcoming revision to the ASH ITP guidelines focused on second-line therapies. Speakers will also discuss important considerations for the application of the recommendations in practice

Chair:

Douglas Cines Sr, Prof
University of Pennsylvania

Speakers:

Sylvain Audia, MD, PhD
University of Bourgogne/Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
Should adults with primary ITP requiring initial treatment receive steroids alone or steroids in combination with an additional agent? Recommendations from the ASH Guidelines

Camila Masias
Miami Cancer Institute
What treatment should be given to adults with primary ITP who require therapy beyond steroids? Recommendations from the ASH Guidelines

Donald Arnold, MD
McMaster University
Considerations on the Role of Splenectomy and Switching TPOs After Treatment Failure

Women in Hematology Networking Event

Monday, December 8, 2025, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l DEFG

This popular annual networking event will provide a space where all can gather and connect with peers and potential mentors. The panel will explore the theme of transitions—an important and relevant topic that offers valuable, actionable insights for navigating change in both personal and professional life. Light refreshments available during the panel; please join us for a post-panel reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Blood Journals Studio

Jump to:

Hemato-Logic: How to Share Your Cases with the ASH Image Bank and Blood Work

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

Join this studio session to learn how to contribute to ASH Image Banks’s extensive online image library. Whether you're a student, educator, author, or clinician, this session offers practical guidance on submitting high-quality hematologic images and case descriptions that highlight key microscopic features. Discover how to share your work effectively and make a lasting educational impact through ASH’s peer-reviewed Image Bank and Blood Work resources.

Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. This session will be held at the Blood Journals Studio, which is located in the ASH Poster Hall (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall B3-B4).

Speaker:

Sanam Loghavi , MD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Hemato-Logic: How to Share Your Cases with the ASH Image Bank and Blood Work

How to Create a Strong Visual Abstract

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

Want to make your research more accessible, memorable, and shareable? Much like a traditional abstract, a visual abstract captures the essence of your study but in a format that’s easier to quickly interpret. It simplifies complex methodologies and highlights major outcomes at a glance, making your work more impactful across audiences, especially if shared on social media or in a presentation. In this session, you’ll gain practical skills and insights to design compelling visual abstracts that bring your research to life.

This session will be held at the Blood Journals Studio, which is located in the ASH Poster Hall (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall B3-B4).

Speaker:

Mario Cazzola
University of Pavia
How to Create a Strong Visual Abstract

Meet the Journal Editors: Blood

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

Join us for the opportunity to meet with editors of Blood, ASH’s flagship journal. This journal provides an international forum for the publication of original articles describing basic laboratory, translational, and clinical investigations in hematology. Whether you're curious about how decisions get made, want to sharpen your peer review skills, or are exploring how to share your research more effectively, these sessions offer real access and real insight—from the people shaping the future of hematology literature.

Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Advances

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 1:55 p.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

This dynamic session offers a chance to engage with the editors of ASH’s leading open-access hematology journal, Blood Advances. Whether you're curious about how decisions get made, want to sharpen your peer review skills, or are exploring how to share your research more effectively, these sessions offer real access and insight.

Speaker:

Andrew Weyrich
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Advances

Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Global Hematology

Monday, December 8, 2025, 12:00 p.m. - 12:20 p.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

This engaging session provides the opportunity to connect with editors of ASH’s open-access journal focused on global hematologic challenges. This session will provide an opportunity to learn about how to publish in the journal, gain insight into the peer review process, and learn about the journal's editorial scope.

Speaker:

Jorge Cortes , MD
Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University
Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Global Hematology

Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Immunology & Cellular Therapy

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 8:55 a.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

This lively session provides the opportunity to meet with editors of Blood Immunology & Cellular Therapy, one of ASH’s newest journals. This journal is focused on publishing original research on basic, translational, and clinical studies focused on cellular and non-cellular immunotherapies for hematological disorders and their underlying immunology. Whether you're curious about how editorial decisions are made, want to sharpen your peer review skills, or are exploring how to share your research more effectively, these sessions offer real access and insight.

Speaker:

Caron Jacobson , MD, MMSc
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Immunology and Cellular Therapy

Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Neoplasia

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

This interactive session provides the opportunity to meet with editors of Blood Neoplasia, one of ASH’s newer journals. This journal provides an international forum, publishing original research on basic, translational, and clinical studies of hematologic malignancies and related disorders, including blood cancers, immune dysregulation, and precursor conditions. Whether you're curious about how editorial decisions get made, want to sharpen your peer review skills, or are exploring how to share your research more effectively, these sessions offer real access and insight.

Speaker:

Maria E. Figueroa
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Neoplasia

Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Red Cells & Iron

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

This engaging session provides the opportunity to meet with editors of Blood Red Cells & Iron, one of ASH’s newest journals. Whether you're curious about how editorial decisions get made, want to sharpen your peer review skills, or are exploring how to share your research more effectively, these sessions offer real access and insight.

Speaker:

Patrick Gallagher , MD
Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Red Cell and Iron

Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
OCCC - West Halls B3-B4

This energetic session provides the opportunity to meet with editors of Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis, one of ASH’s newer journals. This journal focuses on clinical and mechanistic insights into normal and disordered hemostasis and vascular function, covering acquired bleeding, thrombosis, and conditions affecting veins, arteries, and microvasculature. Whether you're curious about how editorial decisions get made, want to sharpen your peer review skills, or are exploring how to share your research more effectively, these sessions offer real access and insight.

Speaker:

Keith McCrae , MD
Cleveland Clinic
Meet the Journal Editors: Blood Vessels, Thrombosis and Hemostasis

How I Treat

Jump to:

How I Incorporate Mutational Profiling into Treatment of AML: Considerations Based on Age, Complex Cytogenetics, and Other Clinical Factors

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 31-32

Speakers:

Jessica Kaplan Altman, MD
Northwestern University

Jessica Kaplan Altman, MD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Jessica Kaplan Altman, MD
Northwestern University-Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Jessica Kaplan Altman, MD
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

Jessica Kaplan Altman, MD
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University

How I Incorporate Novel Therapies into Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment: Frontline vs. Relapse

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 29-30

Speakers:

Alex Francisco Herrera, MD
City of Hope

Alex Francisco Herrera, MD
City of Hope Cancer Center

Alex Francisco Herrera, MD
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Alex Francisco Herrera, MD
City of Hope National Medical Center

Alex Francisco Herrera, MD
Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope

How I Navigate Arterial Thrombosis: A Hematologist's Perspective

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 23

Speakers:

Jori May, MD

Jori May, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham

How I Optimize Hemophilia Management: The Role of Novel Treatments

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 25-26

Speaker:

Mark Reding, MD
University of Minnesota Medical School

How I Treat Baby on Board: Managing the Hematological Pregnant Patient

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 23-24

Speakers:

Sarah O'Brien

Sarah O'Brien
Nationwide Children's Hospital

How I Treat Clinical Management of Refractory ITP

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 27

Speakers:

Sandhya Panch, MD

Sandhya Panch, MD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center – University of Washington

Sandhya Panch, MD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington School of Medicine

Sandhya Panch, MD
University of Washington

Sandhya Panch, MD
University of Washington/Fred Hutch Cancer Center

How I Treat Isolated CNS Relapse of B-ALL in the Era of Immunotherapy

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 27

Speakers:

Colleen Annesley, MD
Seattle Children's Research Institute

Colleen Annesley, MD
University of Washington

How I Treat Multiple Myeloma Progression After Upfront Quadruplet Therapy

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 31-32

Speakers:

Luciano Jose Costa, MD, PhD
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Luciano Jose Costa, MD, PhD
Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Luciano Jose Costa, MD, PhD
The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Luciano Jose Costa, MD, PhD
University of Alabama

Luciano Jose Costa, MD, PhD
University of Alabama at Birmingham

How I Treat The Balancing Act of Anticoagulant Management in Hemoglobinopathies

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 25-26

Speakers:

Ted Wun, MD
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Ted Wun, MD
University of California, Davis

Ted Wun, MD
University of California, Davis Health

How I Use NGS in the Pre and Post-HSCT and Cell Therapy Setting

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 29-30

Speakers:

Michael Pulsipher, MD
Division of Hematology and Oncology, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah

Michael Pulsipher, MD
Division of Hematology and Oncology, Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah,

Michael Pulsipher, MD
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah

Michael Pulsipher, MD
Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah

Michael Pulsipher, MD
University of Utah Health

Meet the Scientist

Jump to:

Meet The Scientist: Clonal Evolution in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 19

Speaker:

Ulrich Steidl Jr, MD, PhD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Meet The Scientist: Genomics and Targeted Therapy in Pediatric Acute Leukemia

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 19

Speaker:

Yana Pikman, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital

Meet The Scientist: Hematopoietic Clones - To Be or Not to Be

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 22

Speaker:

Benjamin Ebert, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Meet the Scientist: Molecularly Targeted Therapies in Lymphoma

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 17-18

Speaker:

Oliver Weigert, MD
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Meet The Scientist: Myeloma Biology and Therapy

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 20

Speaker:

Lawrence H Boise, PhD
Emory University

Meet The Scientist: Never Go Into Transplant Waters Alone

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 22

Speaker:

Sonata Jodele, MD
Cinncinati Children's

Meet The Scientist: Novel Genetic Markers in Blood Transfusion for Improved Matching

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 20

Speaker:

Stella T Chou, MD
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Meet The Scientist: Somatic Genetic Rescue in Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes – Friend or Foe?

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Bayhill 17-18

Speaker:

Marcin W Wlodarski, MD, PhD
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Population Health

Jump to:

Education Program

Our Patient Is Pregnant: Comanaging Obstetric Patients With Complex Hematologic Issues During Their Pregnancy and Delivery

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom S

Pregnant women comprise a population with exceptionally challenging sets of problems for the consulting hematologist. This session, held in conjunction with the Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders will focus on three sets of hematologic problems faced by pregnant women. In many cases, there are no evidence-based guidelines for optimal management, but only expert opinion and case series, making management decisions even more challenging.

Dr. Bethany Samuelson Bannow will present the risks and hemostatic changes associated with pregnancy in individuals with and without bleeding disorders. Essential components of delivery planning in patients with bleeding disorders will be discussed, including mode of delivery and neuraxial anesthesia.

Dr. Donald Arnold will review management of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in pregnancy, including management of refractory ITP and what is known about use of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in pregnancy.

Dr. Lydia Pecker will present best practices for management of high-risk pregnancies in patients with sickle cell disease and how to proactively strategize to best improve outcomes for both moms and babies.

Chair:

Alice Ma, MD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Speakers:

Bethany Samuelson Bannow, MD,PhD
Oregon Health and Science University

Pregnancy Management for Patients with Bleeding Disorders

Donald Arnold, MD
McMaster University

A Practical Approach to Immune Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy

Lydia Pecker, MD
Johns Hopkins University

Proactive Management to Improve Outcomes in High-Risk Sickle Cell Disease Pregnancy

Update in Hemophilia Across the Lifespan: Novel Therapies/Gene Therapy/Issues in Older Patients

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
OCCC - W307

Driven by remarkable scientific achievements over the last half-century, the life expectancy of individuals with severe hemophilia has reached that of the general population. Tailoring therapy to each patient’s deficiency, age, clinical circumstances, and life goals requires treating clinicians to be knowledgeable about therapeutic options to support shared decision-making.

This session provides an update on hemophilia across the lifespan, covering the broad array of current therapies, their mechanism of action, and application in clinical practice.

The first talk provides an overview of gene therapy for hemophilia, which has arrived in the clinic with two approved medications — one for hemophilia A and one for hemophilia B. The basics of gene therapy and their application to clinical practice will be addressed. Dr. Guy Young will "deconstruct" gene therapy by explaining the various components and delivery systems, followed by a brief review of approved products, clinical trial results, and a discussion of novel approaches for hemophilia gene therapy under study. Lastly, gene therapy center logistics and patient selection will be presented.

In the second talk, Dr. Mark Reding will discuss the evolution of the treatment landscape over the last decade, and how the introduction of several therapies with novel mechanisms of action has created new challenges for clinicians to select optimal individual treatment. The development of extended half-life factor products, factor VIII mimetics, and rebalancing therapies will be reviewed. This talk emphasizes the treatment consideration complexity and the need for a nuanced approach to patient/family education to align with the shared decision-making model of care.

In the third talk, Dr Lim will provide a discussion on issues related to aging patients with hemophilia. Medical conditions affecting the general population are observed in aging hemophilia patients; these conditions include, but are not limited to, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and malignancy. Monitoring, preventative care, and treatment of these conditions often represent gaps in care for the hemophilia population; primary care providers may be hesitant to provide needed interventions and/or patients may have difficulty identifying a consistent primary care provider. Specific issues related to hemophilia sequela, including liver and bone health, gait instability, and risk for falls and fractures, must be considered. The need for adequate support for aging individuals and the potential development of frailty is amplified when continued underlying bleeding disorder treatment is required with other medical conditions. Through current treatment advances that support decreased risk of hemophilia-associated sequela, and increased general health preventative measures, the hemophilia population may realize improved longevity while maintaining “wellness," while also achieving personal goals and best outcomes.

Chair:

Amy Shapiro, MD
Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center

Speakers:

Mark Reding, MD
University of Minnesota Medical School

New Therapies in Hemophilia: Extend the Half-Life, Bypass, or Rebalance?

Guy Young, MD
Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Deconstructing Gene Therapy in Hemophilia for the Clinician

Ming Lim, MBBCh, MS
University of Utah

The Ageing Hemophilia Patient

Industry Forums

Evolving Patient Support Programs: Access, Education and Affordability in Oncology Care

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
OCCC - W203AB

For in-person participants only back to top

Marquee Sessions

Plenary Scientific Session

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OCCC - West Hall D2

Speakers:

Kerry A. Rogers, MD
Ohio State University Hospital

Plenary Introducer 1

Othman Al-Sawaf, MD, PhD
University Hospital of Cologne

Fixed-duration versus continuous targeted treatment for previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Results from the randomized CLL17 trial

Julie Makani

Plenary Introducer 2

Anoosha Habibi, MD/ Associated Professor

Outcomes of pregnancies in sickle cell patients treated with hydroxyurea : Findings from the escort-HU cohort studies

Laura K. Hilton, PhD

Plenary Introducer 3

Sanket Shah

Sasp-driven immune evasion defines a novel African ancestry-associated DLBCL subtype with distinctive molecular and immune vulnerabilities

R. Coleman Lindsley, MD, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Plenary Introducer 4

Irenaeus Chi-Chung Chan, M.Sc.

CDK4/6 inhibition mitigates chemotherapy-induced expansion of TP53-mutant clonal hematopoiesis

Jacquelyn M. Powers

Plenary Introducer 5

Haris Sohail

Deciphering the dilemma: Intravenous (IV) iron use in iron deficiency anemia during acute infections

Andrew Wei, MBBS,PhD
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Plenary Introducer 6

Amir T. Fathi, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital

Results from paradigm - a phase 2 randomized multi-center study comparing azacitidine and venetoclax to conventional induction chemotherapy for newly diagnosed fit adults with acute myeloid leukemia

Press Program Presentations

More Than Medicine: Improving Patient Experience and Access

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 7:15 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
OCCC - W221D

Speakers:

Haris Sohail

Deciphering the dilemma: Intravenous (IV) iron use in iron deficiency anemia during acute infections

Richard Godby, MD
Mayo Clinic

Implementation of a multidisciplinary quality improvement project standardizing an approach to screening and treating iron deficiency in pregnancy

Daniel J. Zheng, MD, MHS, MSHP

Cumulative incidence of household material hardship and income loss as measures of financial toxicity during pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment: A report from the DFCI ALL 16-001 Trial

Shella Saint Fleur-Lominy, MD, PhD

Inferior survival in black AML patients treated with intensive chemotherapy in ECOG-ACRIN clinical trials is independent of cytogenetic profiles

Scientific Program

CARs for Kids: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy for Childhood Leukemias

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
OCCC - Tangerine Ballroom F3-4

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed the treatment landscape of pediatric leukemias, achieving remission rates in children with otherwise refractory disease. Yet, despite its promise, significant challenges remain in achieving durable remissions, expanding efficacy beyond B-cell malignancies, and safely applying this approach across diverse leukemia subtypes. This session will explore the latest translational and clinical advances driving the next generation of CAR-T therapies for childhood leukemias. Together, the talks featured in this session will provide a forward-looking view of how cutting-edge CAR-T innovations are reshaping pediatric leukemia treatment—from B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—and paving the way toward broader, more durable cures.

Dr. Sara Ghorashian will review clinical outcomes in relapsed and refractory B-cell ALL and discuss novel strategies to enhance CAR-T efficacy, mitigate relapse, and evaluate the potential for introducing CAR-T earlier in therapy.

Dr. Maksim Mamonkin will address the unique challenges of developing CAR-T therapy for T-cell ALL. His presentation will highlight innovative antigen-targeting approaches, and engineering strategies to overcome T-cell self-death and aplasia, and the most recent results from emerging clinical trials that signal progress in this difficult leukemia subtype.

Dr. Paulina Velasquez will focus on solutions to two critical barriers in AML: antigen heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. She will discuss dual-targeted CAR constructs and preclinical immunocompetent models designed to optimize therapeutic efficacy.

Chair:

Julie Jaffray, MD
Rady Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego

Speakers:

Sara Ghorashian, FRCPath, PhD
Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

CAR T-Cell Breakthroughs: Shaping the Future of B-Cell ALL Treatment

Maksim Mamonkin, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine

T-Cell ALL Meets CAR-T: Advancements and Breakthroughs

Paulina Velasquez, MD
St. Jude Children's Hospital

Harnessing CAR-T: A New Era in AML Treatment

Scientific Spotlight Sessions

Bridging Translational Science and Clinical Trials to Transform Burkitt Lymphoma Research Globally

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
OCCC - Tangerine Ballroom F2

The treatment of Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) is a testament to the profound curative potential of combination chemotherapy, and most patients are cured with modern treatment approaches that utilize intensive chemotherapy along with aggressive supportive care. Still, gaps remain for patients unable to tolerate intensive chemotherapy, for those with disease that become resistant to chemotherapy, and for those who live in areas of the world with fewer supportive care resources. This session will examine the current understanding of the molecular biology of BL, the tumor microenvironment and how this might influence clinical and translational research efforts. It will also explore and highlight significant efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa that attempt to bridge the gap and improve outcomes globally.

Dr. Mark Roschewski will describe the history of BL and its emergence as one of the most sensitive subtypes of lymphoma to chemotherapy. More recently, the field has come to understand molecular subtypes of BL that may have differential response to immunotherapy and/or targeted agents. Dr. Roschewski will also address the role of the tumor microenvironment and its relevance in clinical outcomes.

Dr. Clara Chamba will present progress from the Aggressive Infection-Related East African Lymphoma (AI-REAL) study, focusing on innovative approaches to diagnosing and managing BL in Sub-Saharan Africa. She will highlight minimally invasive diagnostic strategies, share key insights from recent validation efforts, and discuss lessons learned in building sustainable capacity for lymphoma care in resource-limited settings. Dr. Chamba will also reflect on the collaborative model that brought together international partners and local institutions to address diagnostic delays. Finally, she will outline the broader implications of this work for advancing equitable access to timely cancer diagnosis across low- and middle-income countries.

Speakers:

Mark Roschewski, MD
NIH/NIC

Translating Knowledge about Burkitt Lymphoma Genomics and Microenvironment into Novel Clinical Trials

Clara Chamba
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Burkitt Lymphoma Research in Africa: Overcoming Challenges and Unlocking Translational Potential

Scientific Workshops

Disease Severity Scoring in Sickle Cell Disease

Friday, December 5, 2025, 3:05 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
OCCC - W315

Speakers:

Jane Hankins, MD,MS
St Jude Children's Research Hospital

Moderator Introduction: Topic Only

Courtney Thornburg, MD, MS
Rady Children's Health - Orange County

Defining Disease Severity for NHLBI Innovative Trials

Tarun Aurora, MD, MSCI
Emory University

A New Severity Classification System (SCOGS)

Elizabeth Klings, MD
Boston University

Prior Disease Severity Scoring Systems

Special-Interest Sessions

ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency with and without Anemia

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom OPQ

Chair:

Jacquelyn Powers, MD
Texas Children's Hematology Center

Speakers:

Imo Akpan, MD
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Ferritin, TSAT, and how low is too low: Diagnosis of iron deficiency in adults

Layla Van Doren, MD,MBA
Yale School of Medicine

Menstruating individuals: Evidence-based ferritin thresholds

Michelle Sholzberg, MD
University of Toronto

Screening and defining iron deficiency in pregnant individuals

ASH Clinicians in Practice Lunch: Access to Critical Drugs: The Causes, Costs, and Campaigns

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom

Chair:

Mary-Elizabeth Percival, MD
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Speakers:

Thomas Roades
Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy

The interactions of the pharmaceutical system and how the competing demands of different stakeholders can influence cost and shortages

Emily Mackler
YesRX

Combatting drug shortages with drug repository programs

Brooke Boring
Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association

Advocacy at the federal and state level and how practitioners can get engaged

Celebrating Diverse Voices: Enriching Hematology Lunch

Monday, December 8, 2025, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Florida Ballroom A

How Can Community-Based and Academic Hematologists Foster Clinical Trial Participation as Part of Patient Care?

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l HIJK

Chair:

Leonard Valentino
Rush University Medical Center

Speakers:

Leonard Valentino
Rush University Medical Center

Challenges to Clinical Trial Participation

Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, MS
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario

Patient Perspective

John M. M. Burke, MD
Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers

Engagement of Community Physicians in Clinical Trials

Fabio Dennstaedt
University Hospital and University of Bern

Moving Patients to Participants in Hematology Clinical Trials

Stephanie Valer Seremetis, MD
Novo Nordisk A/S

Industry Perspective

Alysha Croker
Health Canada

Government Perspective

Jeffrey Keefer, MD,PhD
IQVIA

Contract Research Organization Perspective

Michelle Feige
Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP)

Institutional Review Board Perspective

Leveraging Genetic Diversity in Preclinical Discovery to Guide Precision Medicine

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
OCCC - W314

Speakers:

Kellie Machlus, PhD
Harvard Medical School

Discovery Based on Population Structure: How to Faithfully Understand and Functionalize Novel Treatments

Adam J de Smith
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

Decoding Bias in Disease Risk: The Role of Ancestry and Genomic Variant Clustering

Jesse Boehm Jr
MIT

Moving Towards Precision Medicine: Influence of Germline and Ancestry on Preclinical Target Discovery

LGBTQIA+ Community Networking Brunch

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l DEFG

Medical Educators' Symposium

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l DEFG

Chair:

Alexander Boucher, MD
University of Minnesota

Speakers:

Robert Stern, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

General Session 1: The Evolving Landscape of Cultural Terminology in Hematology Part 1

Laura DeCastro, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

General Session 1: The Evolving Landscape of Cultural Terminology in Hematology Part 2

Jean M. Connors, MD
Harvard Medical School

General Session 2: Tips and Tricks to Efficiently Handle Knowledge Gathering Part 1

Jori May, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham

General Session 2: Tips and Tricks to Efficiently Handle Knowledge Gathering Part 2

Ronak Mistry, DO
University of Pennsylvania

General Session 3: Content Creation as Medical Educators Part 1

Ajay Major, MD, MBA
University of Colorado Cancer Center

General Session 3: Content Creation as Medical Educators Part 2

Alexander Boucher, MD
University of Minnesota

General Session Q&A

Marina Heskel, MD
University of California San Francisco

Breakout 2: Mixed Methods Educational Strategies for All Learners - Facilitator A

Reed E. Drews, MD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Breakout 2: Mixed Methods Educational Strategies for All Learners - Facilitator B

Rohini Jain, MD
University of California San Francisco

Breakout 3: Cultural Humility in Hematology Care - Facilitator B

Sana Saif Ur Rehman, MD
Washington University in St Louis

Breakout 4: Innovation in Education for the Current Generation - Facilitator A

Thomas Deloughery, MD
Oregon Health and Science Univ.

Breakout 4: Innovation in Education for the Current Generation - Facilitator B

Treating Fairly Rounds Lunch

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hyatt - Manatee Spring

The Treating Fairly Rounds Lunch session will

Introduce the role of language (and cultural diversity) in the delivery of health care for non-English speaking populations
Discuss the impact of language barrier on the utilization of old and novel therapies, patient compliance, safety, and disease outcomes
Present potential solutions to overcome some of the challenges posed by language barriers and improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes.

Speakers:

Rahma Warsame, MD
Mayo Clinic

Healthcare Access to Non-English Speaking Populations - Presenter 1

Cesar Rodriguez Valdes, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Healthcare Access to Non-English Speaking Populations - Presenter 2

Updated ASH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Older Adults

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
OCCC - W414CD

Chair:

Mikkael Sekeres, MD
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami

Speakers:

Kah Poh (Melissa) Loh, MD, MS
University of Rochester Medical Center

Treatment Options for Older Adults with AML: Recommendations on Low-Dose Cytarabine, Azacitidine, and Decitabine Regimens as Monotherapy or Combinations

Luca Malcovati, MD
University of Pavia and IRCCS S. Matteo Hospital Foundation

Treatment Options for Older Adults with AML and IDH1/IDH2 Mutations: Recommendations on HMA Monotherapy, Combinations with Venetoclax, and Targeted Therapies

Maria R. Baer, MD
University of Maryland

Recommendations for Treatment for Older Adults with AML and FLT3 Mutations

Trainee Activities and Services

Career Development Lunch

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Hyatt - Windermere Ballroom

This session provides an intimate venue for trainees to meet with leaders in hematology to discuss careers in the wide array of practice areas within hematology, including basic, clinical, and translational research, PhD careers, careers in industry settings, and careers in private and clinical practice. There will are multiple tables dedicated to each career area and one faculty member at each table leading the discussion. A boxed lunch is provided. This is a first come, first served event that is usually very-well attended. The full list of topics covered are: Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy; Pediatric BMT/CAR-T; Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology; Adult Clinical Classical Hematology; Pediatric Clinical Classical Hematology; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; Private Practice Hematology; Government Careers; Industry Careers; Laboratory and Translational Hematology; Medical Educators in Hematology; PhD Careers; International Opportunities Hematology; Women's Health; Medical Informatics and AI; Lifespan Hematology; Geriatric Hematology; International Graduate Hematology; Administrative Careers in Hematology; and Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program.

Chair:

Leidy Isenalumhe, MD, MS
Moffitt Cancer Center

Speakers:

Rawan Faramand, MD
Moffitt

Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy

Lori Muffly, MD
Stanford University

Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy

Gunjan L. Shah, MD, MS
Memorial Sloan Kettering

Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy

Azra Borogovac
City of Hope

Adult BMT/Cellular Therapy

Neel Bhatt, MBBS,MPH
Fred Hutch

Pediatric BMT/CAR-T

Kris Mahadeo
Duke University

Pediatric BMT/CAR-T

Dorothea Douglas, MD
Nemours

Pediatric BMT/CAR-T

Ajay Major, MD, MBA
University of Colorado Cancer Center

Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology

Hira Shaikh, MD
University of Iowa Caver College of Medicine

Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology

Jennifer L. Crombie, MD
Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology

Gabriela Soriano Hobbs, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital

Adult Clinical Malignant Hematology

Ronak Mistry, DO
University of Pennsylvania

Adult Clinical Classical Hematology

Alice Ma, MD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Adult Clinical Classical Hematology

Peter Kouides, MD
University of Rochester

Adult Clinical Classical Hematology

Thomas Coates, MD
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

Pediatric Clinical Classical Hematology

Neha Bhasin, MD
Beinoff Children's

Pediatric Clinical Classical Hematology

Melissa Rose, DO
Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Pediatric Clinical Classical Hematology

Deepa Bhojwani, MD
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Rayne Rouce, MD
Texas Children's Hospital

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Venee N. Tubman, MD MMSc
Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Camila Masias, MD,MPH
Miami Cancer Institute

Community Practice Hematology

Matthew Ulrickson, MD
MD Anderson Medical Center/Banner Health

Community Practice Hematology

Donna DiMichele, MD
NIH

Government Careers

Relja Popovic, PhD
AbbVie

Industry Careers

Weili Sun
Janssen Pharmaceutical

Industry Careers

Nina Shah, MD
AstraZeneca

Industry Careers

Olga Guryanova
University of Florida

Laboratory and Translational Hematology

Bob Lowenberg, MD,PhD
Erasmus University Medical Center

Laboratory and Translational Hematology

Sherine F Elsawa, PhD
University of New Hampshire

Laboratory and Translational Hematology

Lori Rosenstein, MD
Gunderson Health

Medical Education in Hematology

Catherine E McGuinn, MD
Cornell University

Medical Education in Hematology

Leslie Ellis, MD
Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Medical Education in Hematology

Anna Beaudin, PhD
University of Utah

PhD Careers

Wolfgang Bergmeier

PhD Careers

Ze Zheng
Versiti Blood Research Institute

PhD Careers

Andres Gomez-De Leon Jr, MD
UANL Monterrey Mexico

International Opportunities in Hematology

Eugenia Asare, MD, MBChB
Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics

International Opportunities in Hematology

Bethany Samuelson Bannow, MD,PhD
Oregon Health and Science University

Women's Health

Alecia Nero, MD
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Women's Health

Becky Zon, MD
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Women's Health

Swami P. Iyer, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center

Medical Informatics and AI

Neil Zakai
University of Vermont

Medical Informatics and AI

William Wood, MD, MPH
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill Hospital

Medical Informatics and AI

Leidy Isenalumhe, MD, MS
Moffitt Cancer Center

Lifespan Hematology

Dan Hart
Roche

Lifespan Hematology

Julie Kanter, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lifespan Hematology

Maya Abdallah, MD
Boston University

Geriatric Hematology

Hira Mian, MD
McMaster University

Geriatric Hematology

Tanya Wildes, MD,MSc
University of Nebraska

Geriatric Hematology

Tania Jain, MBBS
Johns Hopkins University

International Graduate Hematology

Saad Z. Usmani, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

International Graduate Hematology

Jessica Maria Stempel, MD, MHS
Yale School of Medicine

International Graduate Hematology

Ana Antun, MD
Emory University

Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program

Reed E. Drews, MD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program

Amy Zhou, MD
Washington University School of Medicine

Hematology-Focused Fellowship Training Program

Yvonne Efebera, MD, MPH
Ohio Health

Administrative Careers in Hematology

John Byrd, MD
University of Cincinnati

Administrative Careers in Hematology

Usha S Perepu
UT Health San Antonio

Administrative Careers in Hematology

Trainee Didactic Session: Outcomes Research in Hematology

Monday, December 8, 2025, 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
OCCC - W308

In this educational session, speakers will discuss their approach to outcomes research by walking through specific examples and successful strategies to tackle large data. Speakers will discuss the where/when/how/why of comparative effectiveness research, including systematic reviews, and how it can inform future studies and current clinical practice. In addition, they will explain the advantages and disadvantages of population-based research, and how to go about making your own database.

Chair:

Reshma Ramlal
Moffitt Cancer Center

Adam S Kittai, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Speakers:

Scott Huntington, MD, MPH
Yale School of Medicine

Outcomes Research in Hematology

Mengyang Di, MD, PhD
University of Washington

Outcomes Research in Hematology

Treating Fairly Talks

Treating Fairly Talks: A Holistic Approach: The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc. & The Sickle Cell Sanctuary

Monday, December 8, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

As part of our commitment to excellence through expansion and inclusion, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) is offering the ASH Treating Fairly Talks. This inclusive space is designed to help attendees recognize the drivers of differing outcomes for various populations as viewed through the hematology lens and provide tools to make changes in their institutions. These sessions will include a short expert commentary followed by facilitated conversations about actions that can be taken to drive change at your institution. The Treating Fairly Talks will take place at the ASH Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Ms. Tabatha McGee, CEO of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc., will present on successful community-centric initiatives for sickle cell disease.

Speaker:

Treating Fairly Talks: A Holistic Approach: The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc. & The Sickle Cell Sanctuary

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Ms. Tabatha McGee, CEO of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc., will present on successful community-centric initiatives for sickle cell disease.

Speaker:

Tabatha McGee
Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc.

A Holistic Approach: The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc. and The Sickle Cell Sanctuary

Treating Fairly Talks: Breaking Barriers in Blood Cancer: Transforming Access and Outcomes Across Populations

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Tina Bhatnagar will present on the impact of geography on care.

Speaker:

Treating Fairly Talks: Breaking Barriers in Blood Cancer: Transforming Access and Outcomes Across Populations

Monday, December 8, 2025, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Tina Bhatnagar will present on the impact of geography on care.

Speaker:

Bhavana Bhatnagar, DO
West Virginia University Cancer Institute, Wheeling Hospital

Breaking Barriers in Blood Cancer: Transforming Access and Outcomes Across Populations

Treating Fairly Talks: Breaking Financial Barriers to Care Through Affordable Innovation

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

As part of our commitment to excellence through expansion and inclusion, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) is offering the ASH Treating Fairly Talks. These sessions will take place at the ASH Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C). This inclusive space is designed to help attendees recognize the drivers of differing outcomes for various populations as viewed through the hematology lens and provide tools to make changes in their institutions. These sessions will include a short expert commentary followed by facilitated conversations about actions that can be taken to drive change at your institution.

Dr. Andres Gomez-De Leon will present on the financial factors to accessing care.

Speaker:

Treating Fairly Talks: Breaking Financial Barriers to Care Through Affordable Innovation

Monday, December 8, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Andres Gomez-De Leon will present on the financial factors to accessing care.

Speaker:

Andres Gomez-De Leon Jr, MD
UANL Monterrey Mexico

Breaking Financial Barriers to Care Through Affordable Innovation

Treating Fairly Talks: From Precision Medicine to Personalized Care: Meeting Patients Where They Are

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Eneida Nemecek will present on tailoring care for optimal patient outcomes.

Speaker:

Treating Fairly Talks: From Precision Medicine to Personalized Care: Meeting Patients Where They Are

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Eneida Nemecek will present on tailoring care for optimal patient outcomes.

Speaker:

Eneida Nemecek, MD
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

From Precision Medicine to Personalized Care: Meeting Patients Where They Are

Treating Fairly Talks: Impact of Geography on Care

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Norma Ada will present on the impact of geography on care.

Speaker:

Treating Fairly Talks: Impact of Geography on Care

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Norma Ada will present on the impact of geography on care.

Speaker:

Norma Ada
Medical Associates of the Pacific, LLC

Impact of Geography on Care

Treating Fairly Talks: Promoting Language Equity in Care and Research

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Alisa Khan will present on the importance of language on outcomes of care.

Speaker:

Treating Fairly Talks: Promoting Language Equity in Care and Research

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Alisa Khan will present on the importance of language on outcomes of care.

Speaker:

Alisa Khan
Boston Children's Hospital

Promoting Language Equity in Care and Research

Scientific Spotlight

Jump to:

Bridging Translational Science and Clinical Trials to Transform Burkitt Lymphoma Research Globally

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
OCCC - Tangerine Ballroom F2

Speakers:

Mark Roschewski, MD
NIH/NIC
Translating Knowledge about Burkitt Lymphoma Genomics and Microenvironment into Novel Clinical Trials

Clara Chamba
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Burkitt Lymphoma Research in Africa: Overcoming Challenges and Unlocking Translational Potential

Creative and Novel Statistical Techniques to Design and Analyze Data for Trials Focused on Rare Hematologic Diseases

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Hyatt - Regency Ballroom R

Clinical trials in rare hematologic conditions often face significant hurdles: limited patient populations, disease heterogeneity, and complex endpoints, further compounded by regulatory and ethical considerations. Join us for an interactive discussion on how innovative statistical methods can improve trial feasibility and scientific rigor while navigating the constraints inherent in rare disease research. Practical, impactful designs and analysis strategies will be explored through real-world trial applications, with lessons that extend beyond statistics to inform clinical decision-making. This session marks the first statistics-focused event during the ASH Annual Meeting — Where Clinical Insight Meets Statistical Innovation. It will provide a unique platform for clinicians and statisticians to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate on innovative ideas for trials focused on rare hematologic diseases.

Dr. Arzu Onar-Thomas will provide an overview of trial design challenges encountered in rare disease settings. She will discuss how leveraging external data can optimize trial design while balancing necessary trade-offs, with a focus on the strategies on interim futility analyses for single-arm trials. Motivating examples from recently completed pediatric brain tumor trials will be discussed, highlighting the approaches which are readily applicable for rare heme disease trials.

Dr. Ernest Amankwah will discuss a novel adaptation of the parallel cohort randomized controlled trial that recaptures eligible participants who would have been excluded from a trial otherwise. He will outline approaches employed to assure congruence of this non-randomized control group, and present the application of this adaptation in the CRITICAL-Kids-TP trial, a proposed phase 3 trial of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis versus standard of care (no pharmacological thromboprophylaxis) in critically ill adolescents.

Chair:

Fangxin Hong
Pfizer Inc

Speakers:

Arzu Onar-Thomas
St Jude's Children Hospital
Rational Compromises in Trial Design for Rare Diseases - Lessons from Pediatric Cancer

Ernest Amankwah
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Design and Application of RCT for Rare/Low-Frequency Diseases: From Traditional Parallel-Cohort to Novel Contemporaneous Control Recapture

Epigenomic Frontiers in the Diagnosis of Hematological Malignancies

Monday, December 8, 2025, 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OCCC - W230

The rapid and accurate diagnosis of acute leukemias remains a major challenge in hematopathology. Traditional diagnostic methods often fall short in delivering timely and precise classification, which is essential for effective treatment planning. Recent advances in next- and third-generation sequencing technologies have transformed our ability to decode nucleotide sequences and epigenetic modifications, including chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation. These technologies offer a promising path toward improving both the speed and accuracy of leukemia diagnostics. By integrating long-read sequencing and chromatin profiling, researchers can now classify leukemias with unprecedented precision. These innovative approaches not only deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of hematologic malignancies but are also entering clinical evaluation. This session will showcase cutting-edge developments in epigenomic and chromatin-based diagnostics for acute leukemia.

Dr. Volker Hovestadt will discuss a novel artificial intelligence tool called MARLIN that can quickly and accurately classify molecular subtypes of acute leukemia. This new tool applies DNA methylation profiling to distinguish 38 different leukemia subtypes across age groups and myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Real-time MARLIN predictions generate accurate predictions in as little as two hours of sample receipt, potentially helping doctors make faster and more precise treatment decisions for patients with suspected acute leukemia.

Dr. Florence Nguyen-Khac will discuss the value of DNA methylation profiling in three examples of mature B-cell malignancies: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia, and B-Prolymphocytic Leukemia. Her presentation will explore how epigenetic profiling, particularly DNA methylation patterns, can improve disease classification, refine prognosis, and guide therapeutic strategies in these closely related hematologic disorders.

Chair:

Bert Van der Reijden, PhD
Radboudumc

Speakers:

Volker Hovestadt, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Long-Read Epigenomic Classification of Acute Leukemia

Florence Nguyen-Khac
Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere, Sorbonne Universite
Chromatin-Based Diagnosis in Lymphocytic Leukemia

The Issue of Rejection of Allogeneic Cellular Therapies: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Novel Strategies to Overcome It

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
OCCC - Sunburst Room (W340)

Allogeneic cellular therapies are emerging as a transformative platform for cancer treatment, offering immediate availability and broader access compared with autologous therapies that require individualized manufacturing. However, the success of off-the-shelf approaches is limited by immune rejection, as both the adaptive and innate arms of the host immune system rapidly recognize and eliminate donor-derived cells. Rejection can occur through T-cell–mediated recognition of mismatched major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, antibody-driven responses, natural killer (NK) cell–mediated cytotoxicity, and macrophage-mediated clearance. These immune barriers lead to poor persistence of allogeneic products and reduced therapeutic efficacy.

This session will highlight cutting-edge research dissecting the immunologic mechanisms that lead to failure of allogeneic cell therapies and emerging engineering and therapeutic strategies designed to overcome rejection. It will also emphasize the convergence of new genome editing technologies, immune evasion strategies, and advances in cell manufacturing that together are redefining what is possible for off-the-shelf cellular immunotherapy.

Dr. Marco Ruella will review clinical data demonstrating failure of allogeneic cell therapies due to immune-mediated clearance and will delineate key pathways, both innate and adaptive, responsible for allogeneic cell rejection. He will highlight evidence from early-phase clinical trials and discuss how immune profiling can uncover rejection mechanisms that limit persistence and durability.

Dr. May Daher will discuss next-generation strategies aimed at reducing immune rejection of allogeneic products. These approaches include eliminating MHC expression, inserting immune checkpoint ligands, modulating NK-cell activation pathways, and incorporating immune cloaking elements such as CD47 expression. She will also address how combinatorial genome engineering and pharmacologic modulation are enabling increasingly resilient cellular products capable of sustained antitumor responses.

Speakers:

Marco Ruella Jr, MD
University of Pennsylvania
Current Clinical Evidence of Allogeneic Cellular Products Failure and Mechanisms

May Daher, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Strategies to Reduce Immune Rejection of Off-the-Shelf Cell Therapies

Transcending Boundaries: Study of Ambiguous Lineage Acute Leukemia Unlocks Mysteries for All Leukemias

Monday, December 8, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
OCCC - W224CDGH

The existence of acute leukemias of mixed or ambiguous lineage has long been recognized but the diagnostic criteria for mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) has been historically fluid. This fluidity reflects the heterogeneous nature of this entity, which unlike other acute leukemias, largely lacks defining genetic lesions and relies on immunophenotypic criteria for diagnosis, though more recent diagnostic criteria incorporate a limited number of genetic abnormalities. This lack of disease-defining genetics further underscores a dearth of understanding for molecular mechanisms driving pathophysiology. Furthermore, shifting diagnostic criteria and disease heterogeneity make clinical studies of this rare disease challenging, presenting major barriers to refining treatment to optimize clinical outcomes. This session will discuss the phenomenon of ambiguous lineage acute leukemia as a spectrum encompassing multiple leukemia subtypes that are characterized by retained differentiation potential and lineage plasticity.

Dr. Ruud Delwel will discuss how leukemias that were initially uncovered as acute myeloid leukemias (AML) appeared to be clearly distinct based on unique DNA methylation profiles. These leukemias exhibit hybrid myeloid/lymphoid epigenetic landscapes. DNA methylation reveals similarity with early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemias, whereas histone acetylation signatures are more in line with profiles uncovered in AML, in particular with cases that carry CEBPA mutations. Dr. Delwel will discuss the role of epigenetic dysregulation as the basis of malignant development of these leukemias with ambiguous lineage.

Dr. Catherine Smith will discuss MPAL as a stem cell-like leukemia, focusing on multiomic single cell sequencing studies of MPAL which reveal a shared stem cell-like transcriptional profile indicative of high differentiation potential and independent of underlying genetic abnormalities. She will describe MPAL95, a gene set score established from genes highly enriched in the most stem-like MPAL cells, which is applicable to bulk RNA sequencing data and is predictive of survival in adult and pediatric MPAL patient cohorts.

Speakers:

Ruud Delwel
Erasmus MC Cancer Institute and Oncode Institute
Epigenetic Dysregulation Drives Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia

Catherine Smith, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Multi-omic Analysis Reveals the Heterogeneity and Stem Cell Origin of Acute Leukemia of Ambiguous Lineage/Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia

Scientific Symposia

Jump to:

Discovering the Biology of Hematopoiesis Through Studies of Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Hyatt - Plaza Int'l HIJK

Studies of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) help to understand the cellular and molecular underpinnings of normal and abnormal hematopoiesis. Fundamental insight into abnormal ribosome biogenesis and the tissue specific phenotypes of human ribosomopathies, new insights into telomere function in hematopoiesis and the contribution of genotoxic aldehydes to aging phenotypes in Fanconi anemia (FA) will be presented, to understand the link between hematopoiesis, aging and its relevance to cancer development.

Dr Deena Iskander will discuss Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) syndrome, a prototypic rare ribosomopathy. Her presentation will demonstrate how clinical and genetic data from a National Clinical Registry can be integrated with single-cell assays in human bone marrow ex vivo, to decipher genotype-specific mechanisms. She will review how loss-of-function mutations in large versus small ribosomal subunit genes selectively and differentially affect erythroid progenitor development, leading to distinct hematological phenotypes in DBA, and facilitating therapeutic target discovery.

Dr. Luis Batista will discuss the connections between telomerase biogenesis and marrow failure. He will discuss how recent discoveries in pathways that regulate hTR (the RNA component of telomerase) biogenesis and decay, have shown that posttranscriptional modifications to this non-coding RNA are essential for its stability. These pathways can be modulated to prevent hTR decay, therefore increasing telomerase activity in mutants, leading to rescue of telomere stability and improved hematopoiesis, with therapeutic implications

Dr. Meng Wang will discuss how aldehyde-induced DNA damage triggers hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) exhaustion, aging and leukemogenesis as it relates to FA, which is an inherited DNA repair disorder. He will also discuss critical unanswered questions including the metabolic origins of pathogenic aldehydes, the specific DNA lesions responsible for HSC dysfunction, and how insights from aldehyde biology can inform therapeutic strategies such as enhanced aldehyde detoxification.

Chair:

Austin G. Kulasekararaj, MD,MBBS,FRCPath,MRCP
King’s College Hospital

Speakers:

Deena Iskander
Imperial
The Role of Ribosome Dysregulation in Erythropoiesis

Luis Batista
Washington University School of Medicine
The Connections Between Telomere Biology and Hematopoiesis

Meng Wang
Cornell University
Aldehyde-Induced DNA Damage in HSC Exhaustion and Aging: Lessons from Fanconi Anemia

Hematopoiesis in the Golden Years: Aging, Epigenetic Landscapes, and Clonal Destiny

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
OCCC - W312

Chronological age is the strongest risk factor for blood-borne disease, yet the mechanisms that link aging to disordered hematopoiesis are only now coming into focus. This session brings together niche biology, cutting-edge single-cell technologies and innate immune signaling to illuminate how the hematopoietic system changes across the lifespan and how those changes might be reversed. Together, the talks chart a coherent path from niche-encoded cues to immune-metabolic checkpoints and quantitative clonal readouts, highlighting emerging therapeutic strategies to reset aging hematopoiesis.

Dr. Marta Derecka will focus on the bone marrow microenvironment. Using EBF1 as an exemplar hematopoietic transcription factor expressed in stromal cells, she will dissect how mesenchymal niche programs shape steady-state hematopoiesis and how EBF1 dysregulation contributes to myeloproliferative neoplasm–associated fibrosis. These insights underscore that age-related hematopoietic decline is not solely cell-intrinsic but co-authored by the niche.

Dr. Leif Ludwig will explore clonal dynamics through the lens of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mosaicism. Leveraging >1.25 million single-cell mutational profiles across age groups, longitudinal sampling, and post-transplant settings, mtDNA variants serve as natural barcodes to quantify human hematopoietic clones. Attendees will learn how clonally informative mtDNA mutations accumulate with age, how homeostatic clones remain largely stable yet regenerate dynamically after perturbation, and why apparent lineage “bias” often reflects immune expansions rather than fixed stem-cell programs until advanced age or clonal hematopoiesis tip the balance.

Dr. Eirini Trompouki will examine aging as an inflammatory and proteostatic phenotype governed by the innate RNA sensor MDA5. Genetic attenuation of MDA5 in mice preserves hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) quiescence, dampens inflammaging, improves metabolic fitness, and enhances repopulation capacity. Mechanistic data denote the master of proteostasis, HSF1, as an upstream node connecting MDA5 signaling to aging hallmarks, with small-molecule modulation of HSF1 reversing key phenotypes. This work positions antiviral sensing as actionable levers to delay HSC aging.

Chair:

Stephanie Halene
Yale University School of Medicine

Speakers:

Marta Derecka, PhD
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Context Matters: HSC Regeneration in the Cellular Niche

Leif S. Ludwig
Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Mitochondrial DNA Mosaicism and Clonality in Human Hematopoiesis

Eirini Trompouki
Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Cote d'Azur,
Preventing Fires: Targeting Strategies to Mitigate Clonal Evolution

Ouch-it Hurts: Mechanisms of the Origin, Perception and Evolution of Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
OCCC - W308

Recurrent and indeed chronic pain represents one of the most widely recognized complications of sickle cell disease (SCD). The complexity of SCD-associated pain has resulted in a limited understanding of its etiology and mechanism, despite several studies in this area. As a public health imperative, SCD-associated pain leads to poor overall quality of life from its impact on multiple aspects of daily living. Opioids, which are the mainstay of pain therapy in patients with SCD, present with multiple potential side-effects including opioid dependence. Understanding the mechanism that initiate, propagate and sustain pain, especially chronic pain in SCD represents a critical knowledge gap, given its impact on development of future and more effective preventative and therapeutic strategies. The goal of this session is therefore, to provide state-of-the-science information on SCD-associated pain complications and identify opportunities and gaps for future research.

Dr. Kalpna Gupta will present the current understanding of mechanisms underlying sickle cell pain, revealing treatable targets for the development of novel interventions to prevent and treat pain. She will highlight novel molecular and cellular mechanism based pharmacologic and integrative approaches and advancement in non-invasive technology to treat pain with potential for translation to the clinics.

Dr. Bin He will present on non-pharmacological approaches for treating pain and their potential application to SCD-associated pain. Dr. He will also discuss the neuroscience mechanisms underlying tFUS neuromodulation for non-invasive, circuit-specific brain stimulation in both animal models and human subjects.

Dr. Jahnavi Gollamudi will present on the contribution of SCD-associated bone disease, to the pathophysiology of chronic pain. First focusing on the mechanisms underlying bone complications in SCD and then moving to discuss the mechanisms by which bone cells interact with nociceptive nerves and contribute to bone pain and finally touch on bisphosphonates a potential non-opioid option for managing bone pain in SCD.

Chair:

Hyacinth Hyacinth
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Speakers:

Kalpna Gupta, PhD
University of California, Irvine, CA
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Sickle Cell Pathobiology and Neural Mechanisms that Evoke, Maintain and Perceive Pain

Bin He
Carnegie Mellon University
Treat the Pain in My Brain: Understanding Neuromodulation and Technology Enhanced Interventions for Sickle Cell Disease Pain

Jahnavi Gollamudi, MD
University of Cincinnati
It Refuses to Leave: The Challenging Bone Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

Special Symposium on the Basic Science in Hemostasis and Thrombosis

Monday, December 8, 2025, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
OCCC - Valencia Room W415D

Hemostasis is far more than the rapid sealing of a wound—it is a dynamic, finely tuned process that dictates whether injury leads to repair or pathology. This session explores the multifaceted roles of coagulation, platelets, and fibrinolysis in both physiological healing and disease states, highlighting how dysregulation in these pathways underlies organ damage and thrombotic disorders. Together, these talks will illuminate how the molecular choreography of clot formation, resolution, and repair shapes outcomes across bleeding and thrombotic disorders.

Dr. Ashley Brown will open the session by delineating the intricate crosstalk between coagulation, platelet activation, and fibrinolytic pathways in the orchestration of hemostasis and tissue repair. Her presentation will underscore how precise temporal control of clot formation and dissolution determines whether healing proceeds or fibrosis ensues. She will also highlight novel therapeutic strategies that harness this balance to promote regeneration while limiting scarring.

Dr. Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd will then extend this theme to the context of sickle cell disease, where chronic hemolysis disrupts vascular homeostasis. She will present compelling evidence that von Willebrand factor (vWF) serves not only as a hemostatic mediator but also as a biomarker and contributor to liver injury. Using preclinical models, she will illustrate how hemolysis-induced endothelial damage alters vWF cleavage and clearance, revealing a previously unrecognized regulatory role of cell-free hemoglobin independent of ADAMTS13.

Dr. Marlys Koschinsky will tackle the longstanding debate surrounding lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and its potential role in venous thrombosis. Integrating mechanistic and translational data, she will describe how Lp(a) influences thrombin generation, fibrin architecture, and clot stability in both in vitro systems and transgenic models. These insights will help clarify whether Lp(a) acts as a silent culprit or an innocent bystander in thrombotic cardiovascular disease.

If you are attending the meeting in Orlando, following this session, please join ASH leadership and your colleagues at the ASH Networking Reception for the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Community, taking place just outside the room in the Valencia Lobby, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Speakers:

Ashley Brown
North Carolina State University and UNC Chapel Hill
Clots, Cuts, and Healing: The Dynamic trio of Coagulation, Platelets, and Fibrinolysis

Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd, PhD
Versiti Blood Research Institute
Blood, Clots, and Scars: Unraveling the Hidden Links Between Coagulation and Liver Cirrhosis

Marlys Koschinsky, PhD
The University of Western Ontario
Lipoprotein(a) and Thrombosis: Insights from Basic and Clinical Science

Nardeen Ayad, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellow
Long-term safety and effectiveness of systemic bevacizumab for chronic severe bleeding in idiopathic gastrointestinal angiodysplasia, esophageal varices, and angiodysplasia of von willebrand disease and acquired von willebrand syndrome

Targeting Cancer Metabolism – Innovative Methods to Translation

Monday, December 8, 2025, 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OCCC - W312

This session explores how cancer metabolism shapes therapy response and resistance. It highlights advances in understanding the Warburg effect, metabolic dependencies, and oncometabolites such as 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), with a focus on their translational impact.

Dr. Matthew Vander Heiden will discuss how environmental nutrients constrain leukemia metabolism to impact therapy and suggest mechanisms by which metabolic adaptations might lead to changes in gene expression that could contribute to disease progression and therapy resistance. The nutrient environment creates constraints on how leukemia cells can acquire the biomass necessary to support proliferation. This has implications for understanding the response to therapy, many of which target metabolism in a way that is impacted by the nutrient environment.

Dr. Jeffrey Rathmell will discuss mechanisms by which metabolic pathways regulate immune cell function and highlight how mitochondria respond to stress to shape immunity. T cells experience metabolic and mitochondrial stress because of chronic inflammation and stimulation. Fever is a common stress that reflects a mild heat shock that can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction with implications on cell fate and ability to respond to cancer.

Dr. Andrew Intlekofer will describe mechanistic studies of an unusual drug resistance mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), which led to the surprising discovery that genetic or pharmacologic hyperactivation (rather than inhibition) of mutant IDH unleashes metabolic toxicity that selectively eliminates IDH-mutant leukemia cells. Mutant IDH enzymes drive cancer by producing a metabolite called 2HG that alters gene expression creating a stem-like state. Drugs that inhibit mutant IDH enzymes induce durable clinical responses in some patients with IDH-mutant acute myeloid leukemia. However, despite near universal suppression of oncometabolite 2HG, IDH inhibitors benefit less than half of patients with IDH-mutant AML, and drug resistance invariably develops.

Chair:

Mala Shanmugam
Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University

Speakers:

Matthew Vander Heiden, MD, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nutrient Environment Considerations for Understanding Leukemia Therapy

Jeffrey C Rathmell
University of Chicago
Metabolic Sources of Immune Cell Dysfunction

Andrew Intlekofer
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Enzyme Hyperactivation to Target Oncometabolism

ASH Studio

Jump to:

MedEd Talks: Classical Hematology Advancement Mentorship Program (CHAMP)

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

The ASH Studio hosts brief, targeted talks that focus on removing barriers to high-quality care, principles of medical education, and cutting-edge teaching techniques. These sessions will take place at the ASH Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

MedEd Talks: Innovative Teaching Approaches for Adult Learning

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

The ASH MedEd Talks are targeted talks that focus on removing barriers to high-quality care, principles of medical education, and cutting-edge teaching techniques. These sessions will take place at the ASH Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

MedEd Talks: Online Hematology Curriculum/Podcast

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 12: 00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Treating Fairly Talks: A Holistic Approach: The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc. & The Sickle Cell Sanctuary

Sunday, December 7, 2025
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Ms. Tabatha McGee, CEO of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc., will present on successful community-centric initiatives for sickle cell disease.

Treating Fairly Talks: Breaking Barriers in Blood Cancer: Transforming Access and Outcomes Across Populations

Sunday, December 7, 2025
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Tina Bhatnagar will present on the impact of geography on care.

Treating Fairly Talks: Breaking Financial Barriers to Care Through Affordable Innovation

Saturday, December 6, 2025
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Andres Gomez-De Leon will present on the financial factors to accessing care.

Treating Fairly Talks: From Precision Medicine to Personalized Care: Meeting Patients Where They Are

Saturday, December 6, 2025
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Sunday, December 7, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Eneida Nemecek will present on tailoring care for optimal patient outcomes.

Treating Fairly Talks: Impact of Geography on Care

Saturday, December 6, 2025
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Norma Ada will present on the impact of geography on care.

Treating Fairly Talks: Promoting Language Equity in Care and Research

Saturday, December 6, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Sunday, December 7, 2025
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C ASH Studio

Dr. Alisa Khan will present on the importance of language on outcomes of care.

ASH Wellness Studio

Jump to:

Brain-Boosting Break

Saturday, December 6, 2025
11:35 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Sunday, December 7, 2025
11:20 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Enhance mental health & performance with this research-proven ancient practice! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Center Yourself

Saturday, December 6, 2025
1:45 p.m. - 1:55 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Sunday, December 7, 2025
4:15 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Calm the mind & reconnect with the present moment when experiencing stress! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Emotional Freedom Technique

Saturday, December 6, 2025
11:20 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Sunday, December 7, 2025
11:35 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
12:05 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Manage emotionally-charged moments discreetly, quickly, & effectively! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Happy Hands and Wrists

Monday, December 8, 2025, 10: 15 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Try these tiny, yet terrific tweaks to shortcut hand & wrist strain! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Movement Bites

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 3:45 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Re-energize your body & reboot your mind with 1-minute of motion! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Plug Into Nature

Saturday, December 6, 2025
3:35 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
2:35 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Step away from your screen & plug into the power of the great outdoors! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Reignite Your Resilience

Sunday, December 7, 2025
11:05 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
12:20 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Experience more clarity & resilience during the workday in a few slow, deep breaths! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Reset Your Posture

Saturday, December 6, 2025
9:15 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Monday, December 8, 2025
10:05 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Discover the secret microbreak of perfecting your posture! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Shake It Off

Monday, December 8, 2025, 12: 35 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Release pent-up tension & heavier emotions to lift your mood in seconds! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Snacks For Better Fuel

Saturday, December 6, 2025
1:35 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Sunday, December 7, 2025
4:05 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Learn how & when to make healthy snacking the easy, fast, & tasty choice! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

Sneaky Ways to Move More

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 9:05 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Enjoy these 30-second, disguised exercises for a busy workday! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

The Chair Check

Saturday, December 6, 2025
9:05 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Sunday, December 7, 2025
9:15 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

Sit smarter with this 1-minute activity designed to decompress the lower back! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).

The Typing Timeout

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 11: 05 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
OCCC - Hall C Wellness Studio

A stretching sequence to loosen the upper body when doing computer work! This session will take place at the ASH Wellness Studio, located in ASH Central (Orange County Convention Center, West Hall C).